jmMm 




■Skz^m 



'tC^ 






.-rP'-'-^.:- ^._ .,,7.. '\i / 



*^- -'#<„, 



■?\^ 






■'^^ «*/ 'i.'iflS;^. 








C 



iKiJt 




Creighton University. 



REMINISCENCES 



OF THE 



FIRST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. 



M. P. DOWLING. S.J. 



OMAHA; 

PRESS OF BURKLEY PRINTING COMPANY. 

M C M I I I. 






Seal of the Society of Jesus. 




Sub cruce tuta latet. 



•:^sp 









PREFACE. 



V 

^ In December, 1902, the following circular was sent out to all 

^ those who had at any time belonged to the faculty of Creighton 
cr University : 

C , "To obtain some data for reminiscences of Creighton Uni- 

V- versity we are addressing this letter to those who have been con- 
nected with this institution at various times during the last 
twenty-five years. 

"The object intended is three-fold : i. To rescue from ob- 
livion the memory of the early work of the Society of Jesus in 
Nebraska ; 2. To furnish some data for the future historian of 
Catholicity in the West ; 3. To provide a fitting memorial for the 
silver jubilee of the University. 

"We suggest a few heads of information as a sample of what 
is desired. 

"How long were you here? What did you teach? What 
success ? 

"Advancement or development in any particular direction. 
"Changes in the course of studies and the management of the 
College. 

"What ought to be the scope and aim of Creighton? 
"In what respect does it differ from other Jesuit Colleges? 
"Phases of inside or outside work which interested you or 
left an impression. 

"What made your stay at this place pleasant or distasteful ? 
"Comparison with the work of other colleges, 
s^ "Why do our students not more generally persevere to grad- 

uation ? 

"Relations with the clergy and citizens of Omaha? 
^ "Personal experiences. Interesting anecdotes. Description 

' of professors and students. Character of Omaha boys and people. 

(3) 



4 PREFACE. 

"Any notable undertaking in preaching, missions, retreats, 
publication. 

"Evidences of good will from students and others. Exam- 
ples of piety and goodness. 

"Instances of boys working their way through college. 

"Hard times in Omaha, particularly as they affected educa- 
tional work ; and how they were met. 

"Intercollegiate contests. Organizations. Equipment. Friends 
of the College. Studies. Athletics. Dramatics. 

"Facts to illustrate the standing of the Institution at differ- 
ent periods. 

"Any edifying, useful, interesting, pertinent and instructive 
items. 

"We shall consider it a favor if you furnish us with any facts 
figures, incidents or suggestions that may further this undertak- 
ing." 

The answers to this request were numerous, prompt, full, 
helpful and gratifying in the highest degree. Much of the infor- 
mation thus collected, finds place in these pages. 

Twenty-five years is not a great span in the life of an indi- 
vidual or of an institution. In the older communities silver ju- 
bilees are so common, that they attract little attention; but 
beyond the Missouri, they are history-reviving epochs. Nebraska 
has scarcely closed the 35th year of its history as a state. The 
settlement of what now constitutes a strong, progressive com- 
monwealth, does not touch half a century, while the earliest 
records of Omaha's foundations do not exceed forty years. Yet 
that comparatively brief period comprehends the transformation 
of the western wilderness into states, dotted with populous, en- 
ergetic communities, and the development of natural resources 
unsurpassed in variety and extent. It may be truly said that a 
quarter century embraces the epoch-making periods of the vast 
empire stretching from the Missouri River to the Sierra Nevadas. 

What was Omaha twenty-five years ago? What was the en- 
tire state? A quarter of a century ago Omaha had a population 
of 22,000; in 1870, the state had 122,993. The number has since 
multiplied tenfold. Half a dozen new states have been created 
and thriving cities built. In 1867, Nebraska had only five cities 



PREFACE. 5 

with a population exceeding i,ooo. Today Omaha alone has more 
than four times the population of the whole state in i860. A 
third of a century ago, the old Capitol occupied the site of the 
present high school. It was the western outpost of habitation 
within the city limits. North, south and west the eye ranged over 
a stretch of rolling country, with few homes to break the monot- 
ony of hill and valley. Fifteenth Street was the real western busi- 
ness limit of the city. The homes of opulent residents dotted the 
hillsides east of the Capitol; but the bulk of the population clus- 
tered east of Fifteenth Street to the river and south of Douglas. 
This region was the heart of the town up to the '70's. 

The scope of this work requires us to go further back than the 
year which marked the beginning of the College ; for in no other 
way can the circumstances and difficulties, attending its 
opening and progress be properly measured. Hence, a 
preliminary account of the settlement of Nebraska and of the 
early condition of the Church in Omaha and its vicinity, becomes 
necessary. A contrast is needful to enable us to appreciate the re- 
markable achievements of a quarter of a century. Society was 
exceedingly crude, even long after Nebraska had become a State ; 
education was at a low ebb ; opportunities of every kind were lim- 
ited ; and the wonder is that our people and institutions so soon 
outgrew those conditions and developed so marvelously within 
the memory of men still in the prime of life. 

Whenever possible, I have preferred to let documents tell 
their own story and have given the preference to the narrations 
of those who were eye-witnesses of the events and knew person- 
ally the circumstances about which they speak. 

Obviously, this work does not claim the merit and dignity 
of being an original production ; it is rather a compilation. My 
share in it consisted in gathering the materials and getting former 
Creightonian Professors and students interested in it. They have 
in reality written the book. So much of it, indeed, is the produc- 
tion of other hands that, for a time, I hesitated to place my 
name as the author ; and I would have continued in that state of 
mind, if it were not for my prejudice against anonymous publica- 
tions. 

The first question of many who take up this book will doubt- 



6 PREFACE. 

less be, "Where is Creighton University?" and the next, "What 
kind of an Institution is it?" Creighton University is situated in 
Omaha, Nebraska, on the banks of the Missouri. Its Academic 
or Classical Department was founded by Edward Creighton and 
his wife, and munificently assisted by Mr. and Mrs. John A. 
Creighton. Since its foundation, it has given to all comers a free 
education in a seven years' course. Other obvious questions will 
be answered in the subsequent pages. 

M. P. D. 

Omaha, May, 1903. 



CONTENTS 



Page. 
Preface. — Scope of the work.— How it was put together. — 

What twenty-five years mean in the West. — 

Need of contrasting the old and the new 3 

Chapter. 

I. — Nebraska in early days. — The first white man, 

Coronado. — Marquette. — Lewis and Clark. — 

Location of Council Bluffs. — Executive ball. — 

A peculiar post office 13 

n. — Omaha as it was. — Name and site of Omaha. — 
First newspaper. — Freighters and plainsmen 
in 1859 19 

in. — Blackgowns on the Nebraska borders in 1838. — 
Jesuits from St. Louis. — De Smet. — Hoeck- 
en. — Petit. — Pottawattomies 25 

IV. — Pioneers of Catholicity in Nebraska. — First 
church. — Miege. — O 'Gorman. — First mass. — 
Emonds. — Cathedral. — Choir. — School. — Lib- 
eral offer. — Sisters of Mercy. — Growth 29 

V. — Bishop O'Connor and the foundation of the Col- 
lege. — Condition when Bishop O'Connor 
came. — Expansion — Character of the Bishop. . 39 

VI. — How the College was founded. — Creighton be- 
quest. — Act of Legislature. — College begun . . 45 

VII. — College transferred to the Jesuits. — Why and how 
the transfer was made. — Obligations fixed by 
court. — Contract between Bishop O'Connor 
and the Society of Jesus. — O'Neil. — Higgins. . 49 

VIII. — Humble beginnings. — Shaffel arrives. — How the 
vicinity of the College looked. — First facultv. — 
(7) 



8 CONTENTS. 

Chapter. Page. 

Standard of studies. — Quality of students. — 
Omaha mud and bricks. — Lambert. — Scientific 
apparatus. — Zealand 57 

IX. — Holy Family Church. — Parish limits. — Contract 
with Bishop. — Privileges relinquished. — Shaf- 
fel.- — Hillman.^ — Property purchased. — Loss- 
es. — Settlement. — Friction. — Lagae.— Parish 
given up 63 

X. — In the Eighties. — Pen picture of the time. — A 
few noted characters. — Peters. — Miles. — Mur- 
phy. — Bergin. — Gartland. — O'Meara. — " Big 
Boys" 71 

XL — A few leaves added to the story. — Choir. — Lee- 
son. — Games at that time. — An anomaly. — 
Dearth of graduates. — Difficulties. — Scientific 
academy started. — O'Brien. — Sidelights 79 

XII. — Scientific Department. — Scientific treasures ac- 
quired. — Joseph Rigge. — His work and char- 
acter. — Present advantages and equipment. . . 87 

XIII. — The Observatory. — Equipment. — Growth. — 
Benefactors. — William Rigge. — Other direc- 
tors. — Scientific work done. — Efficiency 93 

XIV.— St. John's on the Hill. — Corner-stone laid. — Out- 
pouring of people. — No debt. — Incidents loi 

XV.- — In the beginning of the Nineties. — Fitzgerald. — 
Course assumes definite shape. — Past and pres- 
ent standards 107 

XVI. — Course of Studies. — Cardinal principles. — Spec- 
ialization and electives. — What Creighton aims 
to do. — Jesuit system. — Religious instruction 
and philosophy. — Definite scope. — Develop- 
ment. — Special classes. — Status of small col- 
leges Ill 

XVII. — Raising the standard. — Hoeffer.^ — Financial re- 
verses. — Elementary classes discontinued. — 



CONTENTS. 9 

Chapter. Page. 

Fluctuation in attendance. — Preparatory semi- 
nary started. — Bishop Scannell, life and work 121 

XVIII. — A. P. A. fanaticism. — Origin and composition. — 
Noble defenders. — Disreputable politics. — No- 
torious lecturer.— Police on guard.— Marquette 
stamps. — Petty persecution 131 

XIX. — Hospital and Medical College built. — Building 
and work of the Hospital. — First Medical 
building, the old Hospital. — New Medical 
building. — Connection between Hospital and 
College. — Why Medical College was started. — 
Who made it a success. — Bryant, Foote and 
Crowley 139 

XX. — St. John's becomes a parish. — A collegiate church 
not wanted. — Complaints. — Bishop wishes a 
change. — Holy Family given up and St. John's 
made a parish church. — Privileges surren- 
dered. — New conditions. — Powers of trustees 
defined. — Meuffels. — Bronsgeest.— Church cor- 
poration formed. — Devoted parishioners 147 

XXI. — Honors for John A. Creighton. — John A. Creigh- 
ton and wife. — Knight of St. Gregory. — Count 
of H. R. E. — Laetare medalist. — Notable re- 
ception at home-coming. — Affiliated to Society 
of Jesus 155 

XXII. — A chapter on finance. — Original endowment. — 
Prosperity. — A fortunate transaction. — The 
boom. — Collapse. — Sources of revenue. — De- 
preciation and tribulation. — Everything goes 
wrong. — Specimens of losses. — John A. Creigh- 
ton saves the College 161 

XXIII. — Shadows and sunshine, — Pahls. — No bed of 
roses. — Compensation. — Excellent educational 
work. — Extensive additions to buildings. — 
Improved facilities. — Dowling, his influence 
and activity. — Kuhlman 171 



lO CONTENTS. 

Chapter. Page. 

XXIV. — Friends and patrons of the College. — John A. 
McShane. — James M. Woolworth. — John B. 
Furay. — James H. McShane. — John Rush. — 
John F. Coad. — Michael Connolly . 177 

XXV. — A transition period. — Life at Creighton. — 
Changes. — Library and reading-room. — Stu- 
dents' help. — Stritch. — Contributors to li- 
brary 183 

XXVL — College spirit and character of students. — How 
college spirit was fostered. — Why it was lack- 
ing. — Meetings and associations. — Fine ma- 
terial. — Manliness, energy, push. — Earnest- 
ness. — Friendly relations. — Appreciation. — No 
military spirit 187 

XXVII. — Religious societies. — Various kinds of culture 
aimed at. — Sodality, Acolythical Society, 
League of the Sacred Heart. — Spiritual min- 
istrations 193 

XXVIII. — Athletics. — Different opinions. — Infancy. — In- 
fluence of athletics. — Progress. — Phases of 
development. — Stages of opposition and en- 
couragement 197 

XXIX. — Elocution, Dramatics and Oratory. — First ef- 
forts. — Reward. — Indirect efforts. — Oratory 
receives an impetus.— Intercollegiate contests.— 
Plays. — High standard. — Success, — Dramatic 
power developed 203 

XXX. — Oratorical contests. — Woodard, Montgomery, 
McGovern. — How contests are carried on, — 
Results 209 

XXXI. — Success of Creighton and her students. — Compli- 
mentary notices. — Governor Thayer. — McKil- 
lip wins. — Smith, Egan. — What becomes of 
our graduates. — Proportion of students gradu- 
ating 215 



CONTENTS. II 

Chapter. Page. 

XXXII. — Helpfulness the prevailing note at Creighton. — 
Elasticity necessary in the West. — Various 
classes of students. — Examples and the way 
of dealing with them. — Special classes. — Fa- 
cilities, — Lectures. — Advantages. — Ministerial 
excursions 223 

XXXIII. — Plucky boys who have worked their way through 
college. — Many examples of grit and courage. — 
Three dollars to start with. — Valuable experi- 
ence. — Delivering papers. — Working in the 
mines. — A poetic apology 233 

XXXIV. — What students think of Creighton. — Evidences 
of good-will. — They want to help. — One man 
should not do all. — A financial scheme 243 

XXXV. — Graduates answer some questions. — Glad to re- 
spond. — Foundation of college attachments. — 
Catalogue defects. — Electives. — Most useful 
studies. — Command of English. — Religious 
training 24.9 

XXXVI. — The teaching staff at Creighton. — A scholastic 
picture. — Rigge. — Coppens. — Other earnest 
workers 263 

Epilogue 271 

Appendix 272 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Group of University Buildings Frontispiece 

Page. 

Seal of the Society of Jesus i 

Edward Creighton 12 

First National Bank in 1863 22 

Omaha Cathedral , 28 

Rt. Rev. James O'Gorman, D.D 28 

Rt. Rev, James O'Connor, D.D 38 

Mrs. Edward Creighton 44 

Mrs. John A. Creighton 44 

Presidents of the University 48 

Old St. Joseph's Hospital 62 

Holy Family Church 62 

College Lawn 70 

Preparing to Observe an Eclipse 92 

John A. Creighton Medical College 106 

Lobby of the Medical College 120 

Creighton Memorial — St. Joseph's Hospital 138 

Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell, D.D 146 

Hon. John A. Creighton 154 

Reception Room 176 

University Hall and St. John's Church 186 

Seating Plan of Universit}^ Hall 192 

Interior of University Hall 193 

Creighton University in 1903 214 

Faculty Building 242 

Vice-Presidents of the University 262 

Appendix. 

Diagram — Numerical Life of the Classes i 

Fluctuations in each Department since 1878 2 

Number in each Class for Twenty -five Years 3 

Number of Professors and Degrees 3 

College Grounds, 1878-1886 4 

University Grounds, 1889-1901 5 

University Grounds in 1903 6 

(12) 




EDWARD CREIGHTON. 



CHAPTER I. 



NEBRASKA IN EARLY DAYS. 



THE first white man to set foot upon the territory now in- 
cluded within the boundaries of Nebraska, was, in all prob- 
ability, a Spanish cavalier named Coronado.* His romantic and 
adventurous career is related in an interesting manner by Judge 
J. W. Savage, of Omaha, in a sketch read before the Nebraska 
State Historical Society, April i6, 1880, Coronado was born in 
the city of Salamanca. He belonged to an eminent and wealthy 
Spanish family, and was given a good education. In his early 
manhood he crossed the ocean to Mexico in quest of adventure. 
Early in the Spring of 1540, he organized an expedition for the 
purpose of exploring the vast extent of country in the north. He 
marched from the City of Mexico to the Valley of the Platte in 
Nebraska, then an unknown region. In his essay Judge Savage 
presents in detail his reasons — supported by historical document- 
ary evidence — for believing that "four score years before the Pil- 
grims landed on the shores of Massachusetts; sixty-eight years 
before Hudson discovered the ancient and beautiful river which 
still bears his name; sixty-six years before John Smith with his 
cockney colonists, sailed up a stream which they named after 
James the First of England, and commenced the settlement of 
what was afterwards to be Virginia; twenty-three years before 
Shakespeare was born ; when Queen Elizabeth was a little girl, 
Nebraska was discovered, the peculiarities of her soil and climate 
noted, her fruits and productions described, and her inhabitants 
and animals depicted by Coronado." 

"There is hardly any expedition of modern times," says Judge 
Savage, "around which hangs so much of the glamour of roman- 
tic mystery as that undertaken about the middle of the sixteenth 

* The materials for this and the following chapter are drawn from Soren- 
sen's History of Omaha, and History of Omaha by Savage and Bell. 

(13) 



14 NEBRASKA IN EARLY DAYS. 

century for the purpose of discovering the seven cities of the buf- 
falo and the land of Quivera." He maintains that the land of 
Quivera was situated in what is now the state of Nebraska. It 
was in the month of July, 1541, that Coronado crossed the south- 
ern boundary of Nebraska, at a point doubtless between Gage 
county on the east and Furnas county on the west. 

Judge Savage incidentally refers to Father Marquette's map 
of his voyage down the Mississippi. This map, which was found 
a few years ago in the archives of St. Mary's College in Montreal, 
was drawn by Father Marquette in 1763. It gives with remark- 
able accuracy the outlines of the territory which now forms the 
state of Nebraska. "The general course of the Missouri," says 
Judge Savage, "is given to a point far north of this latitude ; the 
Platte River is laid down in almost its exact position, and among 
the Indian tribes which he enumerates as scattered about this re- 
gion, we find such names as Panas, Mahas, Otonantes, which it is 
not difficult to translate into Pawnees, Omahas, and perhaps 
Otoes. It is not without a thrill of interest that a Nebraskan can 
look upon the frail and discolored parchment upon which, for the 
first time in the history of the world, these words were written. 
So full and accurate is this new-found map that, had we not the 
word of Father Marquette to the contrary, it would not be diffi- 
cult to believe that during his journey he personally visited the 
Platte River. It was a dream of his, which, had his young life 
been spared, would probably have been realized." 

Lewis and Clark were the next to explore this territory. By 
reference to their Journal, published in 1814, we find that they ar- 
rived at the mouth of the Platte River in the latter part of July, 
1804. 

In the reports of all the early explorers of the Missouri, the 
west side of the stream from what is now Kansas City to the 
present site of Sioux City, in Iowa, is invariably spoken of as the 
south side. This arises, doubtless, from the fact that upon enter- 
ing the river at its confluence with the Mississippi the travellers 
found its course an easterly one, so that the right bank of the 
stream was the south bank. This description, therefore, they con- 
tinued to give it even after the course of the Missouri had changed 
to north and south. The curious collection of graves and mounds 
and the two-hundred-acre-tract mentioned in the journal of Lewis 



NEBRASKA IN EARLY DAYS. I5 

and Clark were undoubtedly included in that portion of the city 
bounded on the south by Farnam, on the west by Eleventh Street, 
and on the north and east by the river bottoms. 

Lewis and Clark held a council at a place called Council 
Bluffs, about sixteen or eighteen miles in a straight line north of 
Omaha, and about forty miles by the river — the site of old Fort 
Calhoun, and now the location of the village of that name. It 
has been conclusively settled that this point was the historical 
Council Bluffs. Father de Smet, the well known Jesuit mission- 
ary, who was considered good authority about the Missouri river 
country, over which he had often traveled, and who in 1838, 
lived where Council Bluffs is now located, in a letter to A. D. 
Jones, dated St. Louis, December 9, 1867, answers some historical 
inquiries. He says that Fort Calhoun took the name of Fort At- 
kinson, which was built on the very spot where the council was 
held by Lewis and Clark, and was the highest and first military 
post above the mouth of the Nebraska or Platte River. 

Mr. Jones asked Father de Smet if he knew who built or 
occupied the fortification, the remains of which were in 1868 on 
the east bank of the river at Omaha. Father de Smet replied : 
"The remains alluded to must be the site of the old trading post 
of Mr. Heart. When it was in existence the Missouri River came 
up to the trading post. In 1832 the river left it, and since that 
time it goes by the name of 'Heart's Cut-Off,' a large lake above 
Council Bluffs City." We are thus made aware of the interesting 
fact that the ever-shifting Missouri River at that time ran close up 
to the bluffs on the west side. It has since changed its channel 
several times opposite Omaha. The fortifications referred to were 
near the junction of Capitol Avenue and Ninth Street. The well- 
defined outlines of a fort, or some other kind of defensive works, 
were plainly visible until obliterated by the government corral 
built there during the war. 

Another inquiry made by Mr. Jones was : "Do you know of 
either soldiers or Indians ever having resided on the Omaha pla- 
teau ?" Father de Smet's answer was : "I do not know. A noted 
trader by the name of J. B. Roye, had a trading post there from 
1825 to 1828, and he may be the first white man, who built the first 
cabin, on the beautiful plateau, where now stands the flourishing 
city of Omaha." 



l6 NEBRASKA IN EARLY DAYS. 

The primitive conditions existing in the Territory of Ne- 
braska as late as 1855, can be gathered from Dr. Miller's graphic 
description of the executive ball given to the incoming governor.* 

"Izard was a stately, character physically, mentally rather 
weak, and accordingly felt a lively sense of the dignity with which 
the appointment clothed him. He had never known such an honor 
before, and it bore upon him heavily. To the few persons who 
then constituted the principal population of the city the governor 
was careful to intimate a desire to have his gubernatorial advent 
suitably celebrated. The facetious and wary Cuming suggested 
the idea of giving Izard an executive ball. The rooms had a sin- 
gle coat of what was then called plaster, composed of a frozen 
mixture of mud and ice, a very thin coating at that. The floor 
was rough and unplaned, very trying to dancers, and not alto- 
gether safe for those who preferred the upright position. It had 
been energetically scrubbed for the occasion. The night being 
dreadfully cold and the heating apparatus failing to warm the 
room, the water froze upon the floor and could not be melted by 
any then known process. Rough cotton-wood boards on either 
side of the room were substituted for chairs. 

"The hour of seven having arrived, the grand company began 
to assemble. Long before the appointed hour his Arkansas Ex- 
cellency appeared in the dancing hall. He and Jim Orton, 'the 
band,' of Council Bluffs, reached the scene about the same mom- 
ent. The governor was very polite to Jim, who was just tight 
enough to be correspondingly polite to the governor. Governor 
Izard was the guest of nine ladies who were all that could be 
mustered together even for a state occasion in Omaha. The gov- 
ernor had a son by the name of James. He was his Excellency's 
private secretary, and wishing to present a high example of style, 
he came in at a late hour. His bearing was fearfully stately and 
dignified. He wore a white vest and white kids, as many gentle- 
men would do, but these were put in rather discordant contrast 
with the surroundings. 

"Jim Orton was the solitary fiddler, occupying one corner of 
the room. The dance opened. Notwithstanding the energetic 

* Omaha Herald, January, 1867. 



NEBRASKA IN EARLY DAYS. I7 

use of green cotton-wood, the floor continued icy. During the 
dance several accidents happened. One lady, well known in Ne- 
braska fell flat. Others did likewise. The supper came off about 
midnight and consisted of coffee with brown sugar and no milk; 
sandwiches of peculiar size ; dried apple pie ; the sandwiches we 
may observe, were very thick, and were made of a singular mix- 
ture of bread, of radical complexion, and bacon. 

"The governor having long lived in a hot climate, stood 
around shivering with the cold, but buoyed up by the honors thus 
showered upon him, bore himself with the most amiable forti- 
tude. There being no tables in those days, the supper was passed 
around. At the proper time, the governor made a speech, return- 
ing his thanks for the high honors done him." 

In an address delivered at Omaha, December 2, 1863, on the 
occasion of breaking ground for the Union Pacific Railway, A. J. 
Poppleton throws further light upon the pioneer conditions. 

"On the 13th of October, 1854, about 7 o'clock in the even- 
ing, I was set down by the Western Stage Company at yonder 
city of Council Bluffs. Early the next day I crossed the river, 
and along a narrow path cut by some stalwart man through the 
tall, rank prairie grass, I wended my way in search of the post- 
office. At length I found an old pioneer seated apparently in 
solitary rumination upon a piece of hewn timber and I inquired 
of him for the post-office. He replied that he was the postmaster 
and would examine the office for my letters. Thereupon he re- 
moved from his head a hat to say the least of it, somewhat veteran 
in appearance, and drew from its cavernous depths the coveted let- 
ters. On that day the wolves and the Omahas were the almost 
undisputed lords of the soil, and the entire postal system was 
conducted in the crown of this venerable hat." 

The history of Omaha would be incomplete without refer- 
ence to the old town of Bellevue. When the territory of Ne- 
braska was organized that place was one of Omaha's powerful 
rivals in the spirited contest for the capital, and even after it was 
located at Omaha, Bellevue entered into nearly every capital- 
removal scheme that was afterwards projected. At one time 
when the permanent location of the initial point of the Union Pa- 
cific hung trembling in the balance, Bellevue came very nearly 
snatching the prize away from Omaha. 



Energy her Characteristic. 




Clausus magis sestuat. 



CHAPTER II. 



OMAHA AS IT WAS. 



AMONG the four principal tribes inhabiting the eastern por- 
tion of Nebraska at the time of the advent of the whites, 
was the nation of the Omahas, or, as they were originally called, 
the Mahas. The signification of the name is said to be "the up- 
river people." Its proper pronunciation is O-maw-haw, with the 
accent on the second syllable; but the prevailing tendency of the 
English speaking people to throw back the accent beyond the pe- 
nult has now so far established its present pronunciation, with the 
stress on the first syllable, as to render any change impossible. In 
fact, the Indian accents were never strongly marked, and the na- 
tive sound of the word can best be represented as given above, 
with no accent whatever on any of the three syllables.* 

A writer who saw Omaha almost in a state of nature, speaks 
glowingly of its site. "Omaha City," he wrote, "is beautifully sit- 
uated on a wide plateau, the second bottom of the Missouri River. 
Back of it rise the blufTs by gentle slopes, from the summits of 
which the great prairies of the interior roll in beautiful undula- 
tions. From the first of these may be seen the grandest view the 
eye of man ever looked upon. Up and down the river on the Ne- 
braska side run as far as the eye can reach the tablelands, so 
smooth, so unbroken, so perfect, the hand of art could not add to, 
or take from, one part of it. Beyond is the river, bordered by 
heavy trees, with its broad shallows and turbid current, floating 
with serpentine windings. On the opposite side is the broad bot- 
tom of the river, and, cutting short the view, rise the bold, rugged 
bluffs of Iowa, the tracery of their forests standing out in the 
clear atmosphere with the strongest distinctness, while Council 
Bluffs lies ensconced within an opening — a busy mart of all that 
region." 

* Magazine of Western History, Vol. IX, No. 2, p. 192. 

(19) 



20 OMAHAASITWAS. 

The Arrow was the first paper printed in Omaha. The sal- 
utatory of its editor, Pattison, was as breezy as the western coun- 
try in those days. It ran as follows : 

"Well, strangers, friends, patrons, and the good people gen- 
erally, wherever in the wide world your lot may be cast, and in 
whatever clime this Arrow may reach you, here upon Nebraska 
soil, seated upon the stump of an ancient oak, which serves for 
editorial chair, and the top of our badly used beaver for a table, 
we purpose editing a leader for the Omaha Arrow. 

"An elevated tableland surrounds us; the majestic Mis- 
souri just off on our left, goes sweeping its muddy course adown 
towards the Mexican Gulf, whilst the background of the pleasing 
picture is filled up with Iowa's loveliest scenery. Away upon our 
left, spreading far away in the distance lies one of the most at- 
tractive sections of Nebraska. Yon rich, rolling, widespread and 
beautiful prairie, dotted with timber, looks lovely enough just 
now, as heaven's free sunlight touches off in beauty the lights 
and shades, to be literally entitled the Edenland of the World, and 
inspires us with flights of fancy upon the antiquated beaver, but 
it won't pay. There sticks our axe in the trunk of an old oak, 
whose branches have for years been fanned by the breezes that 
constantly sweep from over the oft-times flower-dotted prairie 
lea, and from which we purpose making a log for our cabin 
claim." 

Pattison's editorial, "A Night in Our Sanctum," is a well- 
written article, and is worth reproducing in order to show by way 
of comparison how truly the predictions concerning Omaha in his 
"dream" have been fulfilled. The article is as follows : 

"Last night we slept in our sanctum, the starry-decked hea- 
ven for a ceiling, and Mother Earth for a flooring. It was a glo- 
rious night and we were tired from the day's exertions. Far away 
on different portions of the prairie glimmered the campfires of our 
neighbors, the Pawnees, Omahas, or that noble and too often un- 
appreciated class of our own people known as pioneers or squat- 
ters. We gathered around our little campfire, talked of times of 
the past, of the pleasing present, and of the glorious future which 
the march of civilization would open in the land whereon we sat. 



OMAHA AS ITWAS. 21 

The new moon was just sinking behind the distant prairie roll, 
but slightly dispelling the darkness which crept over our loved 
and cherished Nebraska land. We thought of distant friends and 
loved ones who, stretched upon beds of downy ease, little appreci- 
ated the unalloyed pleasure, the heaven-blessed comfort, that dwelt 
with us in this far-off land. No busy hum of the bustling world 
served to distract our thoughts. Behind us was spread our buf- 
falo robe in an old Indian trail which was to serve as our bed and 
bedding. The cool night wind swept in cooling breezes around 
us, deep laden with the perfume of a thousand-hued and varied 
flowers. Far away upon our lea came the occasional howl of the 
prairie wolves. Talk of comfort ; there was more of it in one hour 
of our sanctum camp life and of camp life generally upon Ne- 
braska soil, than in a whole life of the fashionable, pampered 
world in the settlements and we would not have exchanged our 
sanctum for any of those of our brethren of the press who boast 
of neatness and beauty of artful adornment. 

"The night stole on and we in the most comfortable manner 
in the world — and editors have a faculty of making themselves 
comfortable together — crept between art and nature, our blanket 
and buffalo, to sleep and perchance to dream, 'of battles, sieges, 
fortunes and perils, the imminent breech.' To dreamland we 
went. The busy hum of business from factories and the varied 
branches of mechanism from Omaha City reached our ears. The 
incessant rattle of innumerable drays over the paved streets, the 
steady tramp of ten thousand of an animated, enterprising popu- 
lation, the hoarse orders fast issued from the crowd of steamers 
upon the levee, loaded with the rich products of the state of Ne- 
braska and unloading the fruits and products of other climes and 
soils greeted our ears. Far away from toward the setting sun 
came telegraphic dispatches of improvements, progress and moral 
advancement upon the Pacific coast. Cars full freighted with teas 
and silks were arriving thence and passing across the stationary 
channel of the Missouri River with lightning speed hurrying on 
to the Atlantic seaboard. The third express train on the Council 
Bluffs and Galveston R. R. came thundering close by us with a 
shrill whistle that brought us to our feet knife in hand. We 
rubbed our eyes, looked into the darkness beyond to see the flying 
train. It had vanished and the shrill second neigh of our lariated 



22 



OMAHA AS IT WAS. 



horses gave indication of the danger near. The hum of business, 
in and around the city, had also vanished and the same rude 
camp-fires v^ere before us. We slept again and daylight stole 
upon us." 

This was written in 1854. Pattison's dreamy predictions have 
been more than fulfilled in the building and completion of the 
great transcontinental railroads; the Union and Central Pacific, 
and a dozen other lines ; in the paving of streets, and other public 
improvements, and in the growth of Omaha to an important and 
beautiful city and commercial metropolis of over 120,000 inhabi- 
tants. 




First National Bank Forty Years Ago. 
Edward Creighton, President, 1863. 

In i860, Omaha had a population of 1,861 ; in 1870, 16,083; 
in 1880, 30,518; in 1885, 61,835; in 1886, 70,410; in 1888 (esti- 
mated), 121,112; in 1890 (United States Census), 140,452. It is 
supposed that the census of 1890 was extensively padded, be- 
cause the census of 1900 gave Omaha only a population of 
102,000. Still the growth was phenomenal. 

"It was a busy time in Omaha in those days," says a pioneer 
merchant, "Our first stock was purchased in St. Louis in March, 
1859, and reached here by steamboat just at the time everybody 
was rushing to Pike's Peak. It consisted largely of flour, sugar, 
coflfee, sow-belly, a big lot of crackers (purchased of L. Garneau, 
who afterwards built a big factory in Omaha), baking powder, 



OMAHAASITWAS. 2$ 

pick handles, dried apples, powder and shot. We also bought a 
large quantity of Julius Smith's 'Old Magnolia' whiskey, one 
day from the rectifying tub, which cost 12^ cents per gallon. 
The Pike's Peak stampede began in May, and for a while 
dampened Omaha's prospects, but it was of short duration. 
The 'Peak' became a reality, and with the increasing Mormon, 
California and Oregon immigration, which outfitted here, the 
military posts, the Pawnee and Omaha Indians, and ranches 
starting up on the Platte, Omaha was a booming town. All 
freighting was done by cattle and mules. Our streets for eight 
months in the year presented a busy and interesting sight. They 
were crowded with teams, bull-whackers, mule drivers, ranch- 
men, Mormons, 'pilgrims' and Indians. In the rear of our store 
was the Methodist brick church. We loaded all the freight trains 
in the alley, and at times we somewhat interrupted the pious pur- 
suits of our old pioneer Methodists, Elder Shinn, Brother 
Tousely, and others, as well as the Presbyterians, who alternated 
services in the church. All the ranchmen, freighters, traders and 
other pioneer plainsmen, would on arrival in town, deposit with us 
their gold dust, soldier checks and furs, and take from two to four 
days to 'rest up,' which meant no rest for the wicked. They made 
'Rome howl' sure enough. After having thoroughly 'rested', the 
freighters would put in appearance, and then all would be rush 
and bustle, to get their trains in order, and they generally all 
wanted this done on Sunday. The space back of our store, the 
alley and the vacant lot alongside, would be filled with bull-teams 
getting in shape and waiting to be loaded. You can form some 
idea of the 'music in the air' caused by gads and whips, and the 
bull-whackers' oaths. Sometimes it was 'nip and tuck' between 
the bull-whackers on the outside and Elder Shinn on the inside of 
the church, to see who could shout the loudest, but to the elder's 
credit he held the fort, and as the racket increased outside the 
more fervent he became. How that pulpit ever stood the banging 
he gave it is a mystery ; but the elder knew the element he had to 
wrestle with. On one occasion the boys 'held him a little too high'. 
He paused for a few moments in his sermon, and came down from 
his pulpit and went outside and spoke very pleasantly, but very 
decidedly to one of the leaders. It was oil poured upon the 
troubled waters sure enough. One of the bull-whackers said, 



24 OMAHAASITWAS. 

'Here, boys, this wont do. Old Shinn is a good old coon, and 
runs a bully ferry (Shinn's Ferry). We mustn't bother him any 
m'ore.' Thereupon, they quieted down, and the elder proceeded 
with his sermon without any more serious interruption. Soon 
after the elder returned to his pulpit, I heard one of the bull- 
whackers, spread full length under his wagon, singing as if he 
never had a care : 

'I'm a bull- whacker, far from home. 

If you don't like it, just leave me alone — 

Eat my grub when hungry, drink when dry ; 

Whack, punch, swear, and then lie down and die.' i 

I 
"That same afternoon, the elder had handbills distributed 

around the camps, giving notice that he would preach at the 'Big 
Elm Trees,' near the military bridge. Between three and fouf 
hundred pilgrims and bull-whackers gathered there and atten- 
tively listened to him. No other minister would have had a cor- 
poral's guard for a congregation from such men. 

"A photographer tried to get a good picture of the 'city,' and 
after many efforts found a point where a camera would take the 
largest scope. The picture was too true. It didn't show buildings 
enough to suit the citizens who wanted to send copies of the pic- 
ture to their eastern friends. Stickles, the dentist, and the organ- 
izer of the first fire department, wanted to have the instrument 
swept around so as to get in more houses, but Goulay could not 
get the camera to work that way, and he could not improve 
the picture." 

As Dr. Miller observed in the Omaha Herald, in after years : 
"Omaha was practically extinguished under the financial ava- 
lanche of 1857, and did not emerge from its effects until the ad- 
vent of railroads." 



CHAPTER III. 



BLACK GOWNS ON THE NEBRASKA BORDERS IN 1838. 

AMONG the Indians who came under the beneficent influ- 
ence of the Church in the West, were the Pottawattomies 
of Council Bluffs and the Missouri Slope. Jesuit missionaries 
from St. Louis established a mission amongst them in May, 1838. 
In earlier days, on a little eminence at the junction of the Glen 
with Upper Broadway, a log hut had been erected by the govern- 
ment, but was abandoned after a brief occupancy. On this spot 
the Jesuits established their Indian chapel and humble residence. 
Two numerous bands of these Indians had, in 1836, been 
transferred from their lands in Indiana to Missouri or Kansas. 
In 1838, the government assigned these tribes a large reservation 
at Council Bluffs and transported the remainder of them' from 
their Indiana village Chichipi Outipe. This band numbered 800, 
nearly all Catholics, who were accompanied on their journey by 
Father B. Petit, Leaving their village September 4, 1838, they 
proceeded on their journey to the west, arriving at St. Mary's, 
Kansas, November 4th, Father Petit returned in January, 1839, 
but, having fallen ill, died at St. Louis, February loth. 

These Indians were for a long time desirous of having the 
Jesuit Fathers amongst them, and not satisfied with repeatedly 
writing to them at St. Louis, they also sent a delegation to petition 
the Government at Washington for the Black gowns. Father 
Verhaegen, the superior, set out with several priests, making a 
trip of over 600 miles to open missions amongst them. He re- 
turned to St. Louis, June 11, 1838, and at his arrival, was glad to 
learn that Fathers Verreydt and De Smet, who had been sent to 
another tribe of Pottawattomies at Council Bluffs, had reached 
their destination in safety, and that the chief and more than a hun- 
dred of the principal warriors had gone to meet them. Additional 

(25) 



26 BLACK GOWNS ON THE NEBRASKA BORDERS. 

light is thrown upon this mission by some passages from letters 
of Father de Smet, 

Nation of the Pottawattomies. 

Council Bluffs, Ia._, Sept., 1838. 
"Reverend and Dear Father : 

I set out from St, Louis on the loth day of May (1838) ac- 
companied by our Rev. Superior, who intended to visit the Kick- 
apoos, and by Father Helias, who was on his way to found a new 
mission amongst the Germans in the environs of Jefferson, I 
made the entire journey on a steamboat and arrived amongst the 
Pottawattomies on the 31st of the same month. I remained three 
days in our residence among the Kickapoos awaiting the arrival 
of Father Verreydt and Brother Mazzella, with whom I was to 
continue the journey. The Aouas (lowas) whom we visited on 
our way seemed also well disposed, and wished to keep us in their 
midst; their chief, the White Cloud, had been my disciple at St. 
Ferdinand about twelve years ago." 

In the spring of 1841 Father Hoecken baptised more than 
400 Indians at Council Bluffs. 

This promising mission began to flag with the gradual dis- 
persion and removal of the Pottawattomies, and when in 1847 the 
last of the tribe were transferred to the Kansas reservation, they 
piously reserved 40 acres which they donated to the Church; but 
though repeated efforts were made in later years the title to this 
valuable tract could never be legally established, on account of the 
failure to have all the chiefs sign the grant in presence of each 
other. The cross was still to be seen over the deserted Indian 
chapel in 1855, when Father Emonds was in Council Bluffs. 

On July 7, 1 85 1, Father De Smet and Father Hoecken left 
St. Louis on a trip up the Missouri River; but soon cholera and 
sickness broke out aboard the steamer "Holy Angel" and Father 
Hoecken most assiduously attended the sick and buried the dead. 
Father De Smet became seriously affected, and on June i8th, fear- 
ing that his last hour was come, asked Father Hoecken to give 
him the sacraments of the dying; but as the latter did not appre- 
hend immediate danger it was postponed. That same night Fa- 
ther Hoecken called for help, and when Father De Smet dragged 
himself to his state-room, he found him in the agonies of death. 



BLACK GOWNS ON THE NEBRASKA BORDERS. 2/ 

He administered the holy sacraments to the dying priest, and 
then, believing that in a few hours he himself would die and be 
buried in the same grave with his brother in Christ, asked to make 
his confession. "Having obtained his consent," says Father De 
Smet, "1 knelt, all bathed in tears, at the pillow of my brother in 
Jesus Christ, my friend, my only companion in the desert, I, al- 
most in a dying state, confessed to him in his agony . . . after 
I had recited the prayers of the dying, together with the formula 
of the plenary indulgence, he rendered his noble soul into the 
hands of the Divine Redeemer." ... It was unanimously re- 
solved not to leave the missionary's body in the desert. A very 
decent coffin, thick, and pitched inside, was prepared for its recep- 
tion ; a temporary grave was dug in a picturesque forest, near the 
mouth of the Little Sioux, and the funeral services were per- 
formed with all the ceremonies of the Church on the evening of 
the 19th of June, the whole crew attending the interment. About 
a month later, at the return passage of the "Holy Angel," the cof- 
fin was exhumed and conveyed to the novitiate of the Society of 
Jesus, at Florissant, and there the remains of Rev. Father Chris- 
tian Hoecken peacefully repose. 

Associated intimately with the early history of the valley of 
the Missouri, says a recent writer, "is the name of Father De 
Smet. He was here when Omaha was a deer track, and Council 
Bluffs a trading post, made up of Indian tepees, log shanties and 
a mission. The Cheyennes, the Omahas and the voyageurs from 
St. Louis, in their barbaric bullion-trimmed hats and their pictur- 
esque buckskins, were the inhabitants. Different from the rest, a 
restraint and an inspiration, were Father De Smet and his asso- 
ciates. Father De Smet, in spite of sacrifice and privation, was 
distinguished for his joviality. Fear he was not acquainted with, 
whether danger confronted him in the form of smallpox, Indians 
or starvation. Enmity he did not know. He hated sin, but not a 
sinner of the wild camp was too ignoble for him to love. As 
friend, as pioneer, as physician, as teacher, as priest, he was loved, 
for in him lay the spirit of those fine old Jesuits who made Mon- 
treal and Quebec, who passed the straits of the great lakes, who 
founded Chicago and Kaskaskia and Cahokia, and built on the 
sacred rock of St. Louis." 

It is a pleasure, therefore, to all interested in the pioneer days 



28 BLACK GOWNS ON THE NEBRASKA BORDERS. 

of the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha, to read in a recent 
number of the Century Magazine, a warm tribute to this priest, 
who, for reasons sentimental, historical and religious, should be 
remembered with affectionate gratitude. This article, "The First 
Emigrant Train to California," written by John Bidwell, an Ar- 
gonaut, says : 

"The party consisted of three Roman Catholic Priests — Fa- 
ther De Smet, Father Pont, Father Mengarini — and ten or eleven 
French Canadians; and accompanying them were several old 
mountaineers. Father De Smet had been to the Flathead nation 
before. He had gone out with a trapping party and on his re- 
turn had traveled with only a guide by another route, farther to 
the north and through hostile tribes. He was genial, of fine pres- 
ence, and one of the saintliest men I have ever known, and I can- 
not wonder that the Indians were made to believe him divinely 
protected. He was a man of great kindness and great affability 
under all circumstances; nothing seemed to disturb his temper. 
Is it not beautiful that out of the dark chapter of those pioneer 
days should shine this bright light? In the midst of vice, greed, 
treachery, discouragement and hideous solitude this one man was 
true to the best within him — true to the instincts of a lovely soul." 




ST. PHILOMENA'S CATHEDRAL. 




Rt. Rev. James O 'Gorman. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 

THE first church built in Omaha was a CathoHc Church, St. 
Mary's, on Eighth Street, near what is now the Burlington 
Freight Depot. It was begun in the Spring of 1856, and demol- 
ished in 1882. Before the Church was built and subsequently, 
Omaha was a mission station ; but it was not the first Catholic 
Mission in Nebraska. That honor belongs to St. John's, or what 
is now Jackson, Dakota County. St. John's was established in 
June, 1855, with a congregation of eleven, and the Omaha Mis- 
sion a month later. 

In i860 the vicariate apostolic of Nebraska, contained 357,- 
265 square miles and had but one bishop, four priests and a Catho- 
lic population of probably 5,000, including the Indians. Now 
the diocese of Omaha contains only 52,996 square miles ; but the 
former limits have five bishops, 331 priests and a Catholic popu- 
lation of 200,000.* 

The first bishop who had jurisdiction over Nebraska, was 
Bishop Miege S. J., of Leavenworth, Kansas. He was the vicar- 
apostolic of all the region north of the Indian Territory and west 
from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains. In 1858, he 
decided that the northern part of this district should be set aside 
by itself, and at the provincial council held in St. Louis, secured 
the appointment of a vicar-apostolic for Nebraska. Bishop James 
M. O'Gorman, a Trappist monk, was consecrated Titular Bishop 
of Raphanea and vicar-apostolic of Nebraska, May 8, 1859, in St. 
Louis, by Archbishop Kenrick, assisted by Bishop Miege and 
Bishop Juncker. This first prelate of Omaha was born in Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, 1804, and was ordained in 1843. He entered the 
Trappist order in 1838, and was professed March 25, 1841, at 
Mount Melleray, Ireland. When he came to Omaha, there were 
but four priests in the Territory ; Father Kelly in Omaha, Father 

* World-Herald, May 6, 1900. 

(29) 



so 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 



Cannon O. S. B. at Nebraska City, Father Tracey in Dakota 
County, and a Jesuit Father with the Indians. There were five 
churches and his jurisdiction included Nebraska, Western Iowa, 
Dakota, Wyoming and Montana east of the Rocky Mountains. 

On December i6, 1878, Bishop Miege, who had resigned his 
bishopric, after twenty-three years of service, and was at 
that time leading the simple life of a Jesuit at Woodstock College, 
Maryland, thus wrote to Father R. A. Shafifel S. J., then President 
of Creighton College : 

'With regard to information on the first beginnings of the 
Church in Nebraska, my will is good enough but my memory is 
tricky and rebellious. I visited Nebraska three times; the first 




'^^^^^pSlirj^^S^^p^iltM^^W 



visit was, I believe, in 1855, when Omaha and Nebraska City were 
first started and beginning to look up. An encouraging letter 
from Governor Cuming had confirmed me in the plan I had al- 
ready made, of visiting the principal places in the territory that 
year. From St. Mary's I went to Weston and through Missouri 
and Iowa. After many days camping and travelling, I arrived at 
the Missouri River, opposite Omaha. The wind was so strong 
that the little steam ferry refused to move. A man took me across 
in a canoe; but not without many tribulations and an abundance 
of fresco work on my coat and pants from the muddy Missouri. 
Mr. Cuming told me that two lots had been reserved for a Catho- 
lic Church and that more could be secured if necessary. Being 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 3 1 

well pleased with the site of Omaha, I promised to send a priest 
there as soon as possible; and meanwhile, I requested Father 
Tracey of St. John's, opposite Sioux City, on the Nebraska side, 
to do what he could for Omaha. In the Spring of 1857, I went up 
again, found a little brick church built, but not plastered, and 
made the acquaintance of the excellent Creighton family and 
promised to obtain for Nebraska a resident vicar-apostolic, which 
was done the following year through the provincial council of 
St. Louis. Of my third visit I have no distinct recollection as to 
dates. All I know is, that I visited Bellevue and could not go to 
Omaha; but I do not remember the reason or cause. Colonel 
Sarpy was willing to give me a big block in Bellevue, on condition 
that I would immediately put up a church. Not, of course, for the 
benefit of Catholics — there were none in the place — but to give 
a fair start to his speculation ; which I firmly declined to do." 

Under the title, "The Pioneer of Religion in Omaha," T. J. 
Fitzmorris, some years ago, furnished an interesting paper to the 
Catholic Historical Society.* We quote from its pages : 

"The rapid encroachment of commerce on precincts hallowed 
by associations of the early days, has brightened the memories of 
the pioneers when 

'In sessions of sweet, silent thought 

They summon up remembrance of things past.' 

"And rays of light penetrate the mists surrounding the his- 
tory of the spot upon which the unsparing hand of progress is 
now at work. Probably no other point in Omaha possesses such 
attraction for old Catholics and their children, as the block where 
stands the Eighth Street School and its ancient, weather-worn 
neighbors. Time has robbed them of their primitive glory and 
the shrine around which the devout gathered for many years to 
offer incense to the Most High, will soon make way for the mod- 
ern civilizer to weave its iron net work on the city front. The 
blocks of ground recently condemned by the B. & M. Railroad 
east of Eighth Street include the two lots upon which the old 
school stands. 

"Early in the '50's the streams of immigration that surged 
westward from the states, were closely followed by the ministers 
of God whose zeal in their holy calling, tended to mitigate the 

*Records of American Catholic Historical Society, Vol. Ill, 1888-1891, p. iii. 



32 THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 

hardsliips of border life. Villages on paper sprang up everywhere 
and town sites were staked at every river ford. The Indians had 
not relinquished their title to the lands upon which Omaha now 
stands before corner lots were mapped above the graves of their 
sires. The first claim was made in 1853. But scarce a year had 
passed, before the Indian title was extinguished and Nebraska or- 
ganized as a Territory. The rush for the new Mecca on the banks 
of the Missouri, included men of all creeds and professions. The 
first miinister of whom there is any record, was Rev. Mr. Cooper, 
a Methodist, and the first Church services were held in a long 
building, familiarly known as the old Claim House, on the 13th of 
August, 1854. In the summer of 1855, Father Emonds visited 
the town, greatly to the joy of a score or more Catholic families 
then here. He enjoys the honor of having been the pioneer priest 
in Omaha and the Territory, and celebrated the first mass in the 
Representative Hall of the Capitol. By his zeal and encouraging 
words, the first steps towards the erection of a church were taken, 
funds were collected and the project had gone so far that the 
trenches for the foundation were dug on the northeast corner of 
Eighth and Howard Streets. 

"The digging of these trenches led to a great commotion. 
The founders of the town had laid out a park extending from 
Jackson to Davenport Streets a block in width, for which their 
brilliant imagination pictured future generations singing their 
praises. Most of the town at that time, was in the valley south 
of Harney Street. Brush, weeds and Indian mound were thick 
in that vicinity and corner stakes were difficult to find. However, 
word went through the town that 'The Irish were jumping the 
park,' and the population turned out to a man.. The Irish did not 
scare at the display of superior strength, but soon convinced the 
belligerents, by finding the stakes, that they were correct. Before 
the foundation of the church was laid. Father Emonds was sud- 
denly called away by Bishop Loras of Dubuque and the building 
was abandoned. The park, too, disappeared soon after and fur- 
nished a large portion of the money that built the 'Herndon 
House,' now the Union Pacific Headquarters. 

"The Catholics did not long remain idle. Early in the spring 
of 1856, with funds already collected and the donations of recent 
arrivals, contracts were let for building the first Church in the 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 33 

city and the territory.. The two lots were donated by the Ne- 
braska and Iowa Ferry Company, The building was of brick, 
24x40 feet. While it was under way, Father Scanlan of St. Jos- 
eph, Missouri, arrived in town and celebrated the second Mass 
in the residence of Acting-Governor Cuming. He returned from 
St. Joseph and dedicated St. Mary's Church in August, 1856. 
The building was crowded with Catholics and many people 
of other creeds who desired to appropriately honor an event of 
such importance. In the fall of 1857, Rev. Father Cannon of the 
Benedictine Order came up from Kansas bearing letters 
from Father Augustine, Superior of the Order, authorizing him 
to take charge. He was installed as first regular pastor of St. 
Philomena's. The first great need was a residence ; but this was 
soon supplied by building an addition to the rear of the church. 

"The old church was severely plain and unpretentious ; free 
of ornamentation, within and without ; a simple wooden cross, de- 
void of paint or gilding, surmounted the western gable mutely 
proclaiming 'in this sign conquer.' The altar occupied the south- 
east corner ; the opposite corner was partitioned off and used as a 
sacristy; a rude gallery or organ loft was built over the entrance 
and a choir organized shortly after the Bishop decided to perma- 
nently locate here. A large frame school house was soon built 
and set aside for the boys. Hon. John Rush was the second 
teacher ; he had the fortune of shaping the intellectual destinies of 
as lively a lot of lads as ever crowded into a frontier school. 
Rigid discipline and a good supply of shingles, with a disposition 
to promptly apply the latter, were necessary five days out of 
seven. Exhibitions of the manly art without, were much more fre- 
quent than intellectual contests within the school. Many of these 
boys now occupy positions of trust and responsibility in the vari- 
ous departments of industry. Among them are the Linehans, Ma- 
honeys, Swifts, Kennedys, Morands, Creightons, McDermotts, 
Garveys, Mulvihills, Burkleys and McGoverns." 

When early in 1858 it became known that a Bishop would be 
sent to Omaha, the following interesting report was made to the 
City Council by a Committee appointed to consider that event.* 

*Tn view of the great importance of the location of the Ro- 

* History of Omaha, by Savage and Bell, chap. 34, p. 309. 



34 THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 

man Catholic See at this point, the measure of which we can best 
appreciate by reference to Dubuque, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleve- 
land and numerous other places, your Committee feel assured 
that what at first sight would appear to be great liberality, would 
be justified by the result. In Dubuque alone, the expenditures of 
the Church have already reached something more than half a mil- 
lion dollars, resulting in improvements of such a character as to 
minister to the pride, and gratification of her citizens. The 
schools established under the auspices of the Church, have given 
her an educational celebrity, bringing scholars from all parts of 
the state, as well as from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Of 
her ten thousand Catholic citizens, known for their wealth, so- 
briety and industry, it cannot be doubted that a large portion has 
been attracted by the same influences which your Committee are 
anxious to add to those that have already made Omaha the me- 
tropolis of Nebraska; which influences will follow the settlement 
of the Bishop at this place. 

"Your Committee beg leave to suggest that it is only by com- 
bining all the influences in our power, that we can hope to make 
Omaha a great center of population ; that the two great elements, 
capital and labor, must be induced by every possible motive to 
join hands for our advantage. Your Committee is satisfied that 
immigration and capital will at once follow the announcement by 
the Bishop of his determination to settle here ; and believing that 
the city will be repaid tenfold for its liberality, they recommend 
that the city deed to the Bishop, forty-two lots." 

The panic of '57 had swept over the enterprising town with 
the fury of a whirlwind, and left but few evidences of what had 
augured most favorably. The Bishop beheld the desolation, and 
before determining to remain and make Omaha his See, consid- 
ered if he might not do more good by locating elsewhere. He 
was not in search of pecuniary advantages, and declined to re- 
ceive the profifered land, even though he should be permitted to 
return it, in case of his subsequent determination to locate else- 
where. In 1859 and i860, the old time prosperity of Omaha re- 
turned; it became a center, the proper seat of a vicariate, and 
Bishop O'Gorman concluded to stay. The streets which he had 
correctly characterized as having 'too much grass in them for a 
bishopric,' regained and redoubled their wonted activity. The 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 35 

lots he had decHned, rose rapidly in value, and would have added 
immensely to the value of the Church property had they been ac- 
cepted. A man of the world, with the Bishop's opportunity 
would have torn his hair in disappointment. The Bishop was 
quite resigned. 

A boarding school for young ladies was taught by the Sisters 
of Mercy. This building stood on the north side of what was 
named from the Convent, St. Mary's Avenue. The land was pur- 
chased for $150 and in 1887, it sold for $82,000. Adjoining this 
purchase, was the first Catholic cemetery, located between what is 
now Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth Streets and Harney and St. 
Mary's Avenue. Not a trace remains today of grave-yard, con- 
vent or hill. The grader has done his work, and paved streets and 
elegant residences have made strange these once familiar places. 

The "Leaves from the Annals of the Sisters of Mercy"* tell 
what Hardships awaited them in those early days. 

"October 21, 1863, the Montana anchored near the new 
town of Omaha, a strange, wild looking place. Bishop O'Gor- 
man came out of a small house to welcome the Sisters. He looked 
old and feeble, but was agreeable in manner and conversed re- 
markably well. He regretted that his house was not large enough 
to accommodate the party, spoke of his poverty which was self- 
evident, describing himself as the poorest prelate in America, 
and said it was premature to put a Bishop in Omaha. Neverthe- 
less the town had a great destiny and it was as well that its prelate 
should grow up with it. It was dark when the Sisters reached the 
Convent. Lamps were strung across the streets in a very primi- 
tive fashion. The dull glare helped them to find it ; for the guide 
seemed to have forgotten its situation on a high bluff, back from 
the river. It was a spacious brick house, with parlors on either 
side of a large hall, school rooms in the second story, and dormi- 
tory in the third. The sleeping apartments were arranged like a 
Trappist dormitory, in compartments ; each having room for a 
small bed only, no doors, the partitions about sejyen feet high. 
The whole looked like a huge stable, though a horse could not 
easily enter a compartment, so narrow was the ingress. 

"In the entire mansion there was absolutely nothing but a stove 

* Annals, Vol. IV, p. 194. 



36 THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 

and a piano. The Sisters slept on the boards and as silence was not 
yet enforced, the younger ones amused themselves by asking for 
various luxuries which contrast with their extreme poverty 
seemed to suggest. 'Please give me that article from the rose- 
wood dressing case.' 'Let me have the other, please, from the 
ormulu table.' 'Any lace mosquito bars? Perfumes? Fine 
linens?' The situation was altogether so ridiculous that they 
laughed themselves to sleep. Next morning they arose betimes, 
tried to make meditation and say office. They did not know the 
way to the little wooden Cathedral, but essayed to find it. Two, 
who led the way, descended the hill and got into a large shabby- 
looking space, wide and bare, toward which several streets of the 
future forked. Here they were forcibly reminded of a saying of 
St. Augustine ; for when they asked a person on the edge of a 
knot of heavy featured men in every variety of dishabille,'Where 
is the Cathedral Church?" everyone pointed to the barn-like Ca- 
thedral, not one dreaming of showing his own conventicle. 

"On their return, they tried to improvise a breakfast. A can- 
didate who came to join them bribed a small boy to find her some 
chips on the prairie. 'Do,' said she, 'and I will show you a piano.' 
Two sisters had to trudge across the same prairie to a sort of a 
farm house to buy milk. A boy kindly went for bread. Tin cups 
were borrowed. The Sisters sat on the floor about the stove and 
stirred their coffee Japanese fashion, with chop sticks, picked up 
under the carpenter's shed. Later in the day, a wealthy lady sup- 
plied some of their more pressing wants. The best room was 
cleaned out for a chapel. A box lined with linen and gold paper 
became the tabernacle. The Bishop said Mass the first Sunday, 
the piano doing duty for an altar." 

In the fall of 1859, the first Catholic Church Choir was or- 
ganized and the first Mass was sung in Nebraska, There was 
not much labor involved in getting the choir in working order. 
Vincent Burkley just got his family together, and marched his 
household to the old church on Eighth Street, and the choir was 
there. There was only one instrument in the town, a melodeon 
owned by a man named Goodwill. The Episcopalians, however, 
had the call on that whenever they needed it. There was but one 
thing for the Catholics to do, and that was to send away for an 
organ, or something else. Melodeons being about the cheapest 



THE PIONEERS OF CATHOLICITY IN NEBRASKA. 3/ 

thing on the musical market, one was bought in St. Louis, and 
shipped up the Missouri to Omaha, and to its accompaniment the 
first mass was sung. 

Father Cannon was succeeded as pastor by Father WilHam 
Kelly, who was the first priest ordained on Nebraska soil, his or- 
dination being held in St. Mary's Church. 

In 1861, under the ministration of Bishop O'Gorman, the 
diocese had increased in importance until it contained eight 
priests, four regular and four secular ; had eight stations, one 
church building, and four in process of erection, and the Catholic 
population was 7,000. 

In 1869, at the close of the first decade of the Roman Catholic 
Church in Nebraska, as an organization, the number of priests 
had increased to nineteen, of whom six were regular and thirteen 
were secular. There were fifteen church buildings, two in course 
of erection, twenty-two stations and two convents. 

Bishop O'Gorman died very suddenly July 4th, 1874, being 
ill less than twenty-four hours. At the time of his death his 
jurisdiction contained nineteen missionary priests, twenty 
churches, fifty-six stations, three convents and one hospital, the 
Mercy Hospital, built the year before. The Catholic population 
numbered 11,722. 



Pioneers' Watchword. 




Labor and Constancy. 




V^/^l-tT^T. t^} Oc> 1? 



^>^ 



CHAPTER V. 



BISHOP O CONNOR AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE COLLEGE. 

NO one who undertakes to write the early history of Creigh- 
ton College, can do so without encountering at every turn, 
the personal influence and feeling the master-hand of Bishop 
O'Connor; nor can he escape penning the eulogy of that lofty 
character. Fortunately, a sympathetic sketch by Father P. F. Mc- 
Carthy in the Records of the Catholic Historical Society* of 
Philadelphia, furnishes abundant material. 

The Right Rev. James O'Connor, D.D., the second vicar- 
apostolic and the first bishop of Omaha, was born in Queens- 
town, September loth, 1823, and emigrated from Ireland to this 
country in 1838. He was sent to the Propaganda in Rome in 
1842. He was ordained priest by Cardinal Fransoni in the Eter- 
nal City, March 25th, 1848. He became the rector of St. Mich- 
ael's Seminary, Pittsburg, Pa., in 1849, and of St. Charles Semi- 
nary, Overbrook, Pa., in 1863. He was the pastor of St. Domi- 
nic's, Holmesburg, Pa., in 1872, and was consecrated Bishop of 
Dibona, and vicar-apostolic of Nebraska, August 20th, 1876. 

Bishop O'Connor arrived in Omaha in September, 1876. 
His vicariate then comprised the state of Nebraska, the Territor- 
ies of Dakota and Wyoming, and the eastern portion of the terri- 
tory of Montana. So rapidly has the Catholic population in the 
West increased that the vast territory which a few years ago 
formed the vicariate is now divided into six dioceses. There are 
two bishops in Dakota ; one at Lincoln, Nebraska ; one at Chey- 
enne, Wyoming ; and one at Omaha. 

On taking charge of his vicariate the Bishop found two 
churches in the city of Omaha, the Cathedral of St. Philomena 
and the German Church of St. Mary Magdalene. There was no 
parochial school in this city. In 1903 there are fifteen churches 

*Vol. Ill, 1889-91, p. 212. 

(39) 



40 BISHOP O'CONNOR AND THE 

and nearly all have schools in conjunction. To his urgency and 
advice the diocese is indebted for most of them. In 1877, in ac- 
cordance with the will of Mrs. Edward Creighton, he built 
"Creighton College" or, as it is now known, "Creighton Univer- 
sity," perhaps the only endowed and free Catholic College in the 
United States. Through his influence, likewise, the diocese also 
acquired two fine academies, which are conducted by the Ladies 
of the Sacred Heart. There are also in the city, two large acad- 
emies managed by the Sisters of Mercy, which he was instru- 
mental in having built. During his episcopacy he introduced the 
Jesuits and Franciscan Fathers, the Sisters of St. Francis, 
the Poor Clares, the Religious of the Sacred Heart, and the Sis- 
ters of Providence. When in 1879, the Irish Colonization Society 
was formed he induced this organization to purchase land in 
Greeley County, Nebraska. The enterprise was a success finan- 
cially and religiously. There are now in Greeley County, two 
large and prosperous colonies, served by several priests and pos- 
sessing fine churches and schools. 

The non-Catholic community held Bishop O'Connor in the 
highest esteem. They believed that he was a good, wise and ex- 
emplary Christian. He gained their respect by his conservatism, 
by his modesty, by his good sense, by his tender regard for their 
feelings, and by his faith in the growth and material prosperity of 
Omaha. They considered his judgment in business matters 
sound. In his purchase of sites for religious institutions he 
evinced remarkable foresight. Real estate dealers came to con- 
sider it to their interest to watch his purchases, and never failed 
to invest their money where he did. His sagacity in these matters 
became the subject of public wonder and comment. On one oc- 
casion he was very much amused by an old lady who contemplated 
buying some property, and who came to ask his advice as to where 
she should locate. A prominent business man often remarked 
that if he could induce the Bishop to go into the real estate busi- 
ness with him, they would both make a fortune. It is the opinion 
of all. Catholic and non-Catholic, who were acquainted with his 
temporal administration, that he never was surpassed by any other 
cleric in building up the material side of the Church. As can be 
seen by consulting the acts of the Diocesan Synod, the rules which 
he laid down for the temporal administration of the parishes could 



FOUNDATION OF THE COLLEGE. 41 

not well be improved upon ; nor were these rules permitted to be- 
come a matter of form. It was a saying of the Bishop that there 
is no reason in the world why the temporal administration of a 
church ought not to be as carefully conducted as that of any busi- 
ness house in the land. 

It is true that some of his administrative acts were criticised 
by a few of his people, but it happens that these were the very 
acts which time has shown to be the wisest. Some years ago cer- 
tain prominent citizens, Catholic and non-Catholic, determined to 
ask the City Council to make an appropriation for the benefit of 
St. Joseph's Hospital. This was the only institution of the kind 
then existing in the city. The scheme was entered into with en- 
thusiasm by the gentlemen referred to, and everything was ar- 
ranged with the City Council. It was only at this point that they 
thought of the necessity of consulting the Bishop. An ordinary 
man, captivated by the offer of city aid, would have accepted with 
alacrity. Imagine the surprise and disappointment, not only of 
the citizens' committee, but also of the Sisters, when it was learned 
that the Bishop disapproved of the whole proceeding and forbade 
the hospital management to accept even a cent from the city. Loud 
were the complaints that this act gave rise to, but it was all to no 
purpose ; the Bishop was determined that no institution in his dio- 
cese should be placed in a position of dependence upon the state 
or city government. The wisdom of his decision soon became ap- 
parent. It was only a few weeks after this proposition had been 
made to the Council by the citizens' committee that a new hospital 
was started by one of the denominations and communications to 
the newspapers began to appear denouncing the aggressiveness of 
the Church and warning the Council not to make the appropria- 
tion. 

One peculiar feature of his administration was his refusal 
at all times to consecrate or dedicate cemeteries. His idea was 
that in a country like this where the population is constantly in a 
state of fluctuation, and public improvements are constantly being 
made, and in which the enforcement of the laws of the Church re- 
garding burials often leads to lawsuits and public excitement, it 
was better simply to bless each grave as it became necessary. 

His priests and people will long remember him gratefully on 
account of the lightness of the yoke which he imposed upon them 



42 BISHOP O CONNOR AND THE 

in the government of his diocese. His regulations were few, and 
only such as were necessary. His was truly a democratic admin- 
istration. It was eminently suited to this country, and especially 
to the West. He never considered it essential for the assertion 
and maintenance of his authority, to harass and load down his 
clergy and people with a multiplicity of rules which were unneces- 
sary, and even in direct opposition to the spirit and customs of the 
people. He recognized the fact that we are living in a land far 
different in genius and habits from the countries of Europe. It 
was often his lament that many of our clergy, high and low, might 
reside in this country a lifetime, and in the end know no more 
about its trend of thought, its prejudices and customs, than at the 
hour when they entered it. 

As a consequence of his thoughtfulness and prudence his 
life passed away in peace. Never at any time did he have any 
trouble with the people or with his clergy. Never at any time did 
he lose their respect. Never at any time did they feel inclined to 
accuse him of arrogance, pride or tyranny. It was his rule never 
to meddle with matters that did not concern him; never to seek 
a conflict. As he dreaded newspaper notoriety, few realized the 
work which he had performed. All his undertakings were accom- 
plished silently but effectively. In the midst of his many cares,, 
he found time to engage in literary work. His style was terse, 
direct and endowed with a charming simplicity. Several of his 
articles which appeared in the Catholic Quarterly Review, are ad- 
mired for their scholarship and exact information. 

It was as a preacher that the bishop was at his best. No one 
could hear him without being convinced that he was a sincere and 
holy man — one who practised what he preached. Those whose 
good fortune it was to meet him socially, will long remember his 
simplicity and courtesy. He was austere, yet had a kind and af- 
fectionate heart. He was as hard and inflexible as adamant when 
a principle was at stake, and his clergy will bear witness to 
the minute care which he exercised and to the fidelity and patience 
with which he observed the laws of the Church, when it became 
necessary to discipline those under him. In such cases he never 
did anything hastily, impatiently or unlawfully, or as a conse- 
quence of personal feeling. His courage was heroic ; he knew not 
what fear was. His most edifying characteristics were his mod- 



FOUNDATION OF THE COLLEGE. 45 

esty and his unselfishness. He appeared to detest nothing so much 
as unnecessary pomp and ceremony. The clergy and people will 
long remember his refined and ascetic face and his modest de- 
meanor as he sat in his episcopal chair on the great festivals of 
the Church. He always impressed the community as a man who 
was chaste in thought, word and deed. His modest appearance 
on the public streets attracted the attention even of non-Catholics. 
A prominent non-Catholic citizen said of him : "He has the face 
of a pure man." When he died, the only wealth he possessed 
was a little money which had been forced upon him by his Phila- 
delphia friends. 

One of the bitterest experiences of any good man is to see 
his motives misconstrued and his actions misrepresented. The 
criticism which pained Bishop O'Connor most was that which 
painted him as a selfish man. It was thought, and asserted by some 
who did not know him, that he had acted selfishly in the division 
of his diocese, and these accusations even found their way into the 
newspapers. It goes without saying, our Bishop was remarkable 
for his charity. Many an individual and many a family have rea- 
son to feel grateful to him for the timely assistance rendered them. 

Bishop O'Connor's episcopacy extended over fourteen years 
less four months. He died May 27, 1890, surrounded by priests 
and religious. 

On Monday, June 2nd, his body was transferred from his late 
residence to the Cathedral of St. Philomena. In accordance with 
the desire of the Bishop himself, no sermon was preached. After 
the Mass and Absolution, the body was placed in the vault be- 
neath the altar. In death he was sincerely mourned and the old 
Cathedral, always dear to Catholic Omaha, became dearer still af- 
ter his body was laid away under the high altar, where Father 
Curtis, the first pastor, and Bishop O'Gorman had already been 
laid. 



Young and Shapeless. 




Vos mentes fingete Unguis. 




Mrs. Mary Lucretia Creighton. 




Mrs. Sarah Emily Creighton. 



CHAPTER VI. 



HOW THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED. 

EDWARD CREIGHTON, after whom the College was named, 
had proposed in life to form a free institution of learning, 
but died intestate on November 5th, 1874, before making provi- 
sions for the fulfilment of his project. His wife, Mrs. Mary 
Lucretia Creighton, inheriting both his fortune and his noble pur- 
poses, determined to carry out her husband's wish, but did not 
live to behold its realization. Her death occurred on January 
23d, 1876. In her last will and testament, dated September 23d, 
1875, she made among other bequests, the following: 

"ITEM. I will and bequeath unto my said executors the 
further sum of one hundred thousand dollars to be by them re- 
ceived, held, kept, invested and re-invested in like manner, but 
upon the trusts, nevertheless and to and for the uses, intents and 
purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the 
same, that is to say, to purchase the site for a school in the city 
of Omaha, and erect proper buildings thereof for a school of the 
class and grade of a College, expending in the purchase of said 
site and the building of said buildings, and in and about the same, 
not to exceed one-half of said sum, and to invest the remainder in 
securities, the interest of which shall be applied to the support and 
maintenance ; and the principal shall be kept forever inviolate. 
When said buildings shall be ready for occupancy for such school, 
the said executors shall convey all of said property, including said 
site, building and securities, to the Rt. Rev. Bishop of the Roman 
Catholic Church having jurisdiction in Omaha and his success- 
ors in office upon trusts to be aptly expressed in the deed of con- 
veyance securing said property to the purpose aforesaid. The said 
school shall be known as the Creighton College, and is designed 
by me as a memorial of my late husband. I have selected this 
mode of testifying to his virtues and my affection to his memory, 

(45) 



46 HOW THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED. 

because such a work was one which he, in his Hfetime, proposed 
to himself," 

Acting on this bequest, the executors, Messrs. John A. 
Creighton, James Creighton and Herman Kountze, purchased the 
present site, and proceeded to erect what is now called the main 
building. The entire property and securities were duly conveyed 
by the executors to the Right Rev. James O'Connor, D.D., July 
1st, 1878. 

On February 27th, 1879, the Legislature passed an Act to 
provide for the incorporation of Universities under certain cir- 
cumstances. 

"Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Nebraska, 
as follows: 

"Section i. Whenever any person or persons shall have be- 
come possessed of funds, securities and property of the value of 
one hundred thousand dollars or more for the purpose of an in- 
stitution of learning of the rank and grade of a college or univer- 
sity, it shall be competent for him or them to present to the Judge 
of the District Court of the county in which such institution is, 
or is proposed to be situated, a petition setting forth the fact and 
such circumstances as may be pertinent, praying the appointment 
of one or more commissioners to examine into the truth thereof; 
and thereupon, it shall be the duty of said judge to appoint a com- 
missioner or commissioners for the purpose aforesaid. The per- 
son or persons so appointed shall be, by said Judge, sworn to full 
inquiry and true report make of the matters given to him or them 
in charge and the said oath, duly subscribed by the parties and 
certified by the said Judge, shall be filed in the office of the Clerk 
of said county. The said commissioner or commissioners shall 
thereupon, personally examine the property, funds and securities 
alleged to be set apart for the purpose aforesaid, and shall ap- 
praise the same and report the facts thus ascertained to the said 
Judge. If from' the said report it shall appear to the said Judge 
that the sum of one hundred thousand dollars in property, funds 
and securities of that value have been set apart for the purpose 
aforesaid, so as to be irrevocably and inviolably appropriate there- 
unto, the said Judge shall endorse the said report with an order 
approving the same, and directing that the same be filed in the 



HOW THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED. 47 

office of the said County Clerk together with the petition afore- 
said, and other papers presented to him in the same matter, which 
petition, report, order and papers, shall be recorded by the Clerk 
in the Book of Incorporations to be kept in the office. 

"Section 2. Whereupon, the person or persons possessed 
of said funds, securities or properties may, under his or their 
bonds appoint five or more persons to be the trustees of the said 
institution who shall thereupon become a body politic and corpor- 
ate under a name and style to be named, designated and appointed 
for the purpose by the aforesaid person or persons in the said 
writing, appointing the said trustees, which paper, writing of ap- 
pointment shall be filed and recorded in the Books of Incorpora- 
tions in the office of the said County Clerk, and the said trustees, 
under the name and style so named, designated, and appointed 
may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in all courts of law 
and equity ; have a common seal, and the same alter, break and re- 
new at pleasure, and hold all kinds of estate, real and personal, 
and mixed, which they may acquire by purchase, donation, devise 
or otherwise necessary to accomplish the purpose of the corpora- 
tion, and the same to dispose of and convey at pleasure. And a 
certified copy of the said paper, writing, appointing said trustees, 
and naming, designating and appointing the name and style of 
such corporation, shall be prima facie evidence in all courts, and 
before all officers, boards, commissioners and tribunals of the due 
incorporation of such body politic and corporate. 

"Section 3. The said Board of Trustees shall have power to 
fill all vacancies in their number, to make rules, regulations, and 
by-laws for the government of their Board and of the institution ; 
to appoint a president, professors, tutors and teachers, and any 
other necessary officers and agents, and fix the compensation of 
each ; to erect within and, as departments of said institution, such 
schools and colleges of the arts and sciences and professions as to 
them may seem proper, and to confer such academic degrees and 
honors as are conferred by colleges and universities of the United 
States. Approved February 27th, 1879." 

In pursuance of this Act, Bishop O'Connor, on July 26th, 
1879, informed the District Court that he holds certain lands con- 
veyed to him by the executors for the purpose of carrying out the 



48 HOW THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED, 

intentions of Mrs. Creighton, that a building has been erected on 
these grounds, that he holds funds for the endowment of the 
school, that for the past year he has caused to be maintained an 
institution under the name of Creighton College, that he desires to 
vest the lands, securities and property in a corporation known as 
a University, with divers departments, of which Creighton Col- 
lege shall be one, and he asks that a commissioner be appointed to 
examine and report. Edward C. McShane was named for this 
office, and, his report being satisfactory, the Bishop turned over 
his trust to a corporation called Creighton University and ap- 
pointed five members of the Society of Jesus as the Board of 
Trustees. The Creighton University, meeting the requirements 
of the Act of February 27th, 1879, was thus incorporated August 
14th, 1879. 




PRESIDENTS OF CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY. 



CHAPTER VII. 



COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 

FINDING it impossible to conduct the college himself, Bishop 
O'Connor asked the Court to transfer the trust. He stated 
that when Mrs. Creighton made her will there was no bishop of 
Omaha and no one competent to undertake the establishment of 
an institution such as she contemplated; that since that time he 
has been appointed Bishop and is the person to whom, by will, 
she wished the responsibility to be entrusted; that on July ist, 
1878, her executors conveyed to him all the properties bequeathed 
by her, for the purpose of establishing a Catholic school of the 
rank and character of a College, to be known as Creighton Col- 
lege, the funds to be kept inviolably as an endowment and not to 
be expended or liable for any debts whatsoever, the lands to be 
forever used for the sole purposes of the school, the interest from 
the funds to be applied to its maintenance, and any surplus either 
to be added to the principal or spent in the erection of additional 
buildings. In a masterly manner he explained why it was neces- 
sary to transfer the responsibility. 

''The jurisdiction wherein the said City of Omaha is situated 
is of vast extent, including within it not only the State of Ne- 
braska, but also the territories of Montana and Wyoming. It 
contains a large number of chapels, churches and parishes, the 
most of which are not able to defray their own expenses and the 
supervision and particular care of which depend very largely upon 
your petitioner. In the exercise of his office he is obliged to travel 
throughout the whole extent of his jurisdiction from time to time 
and visit parts thereof frequently. The institutions of educa- 
tion and charity in this jurisdiction are in their infancy and are 
becoming numerous, and require much attention from your pe- 
titioner. The legitimate duties of the Episcopal office are exceed- 
ingly onerous and absorb the utmost energies and attention of the 

(49) 



50 COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 

incumbent whoever he may be; and this is more especially true 
of such a jurisdiction as that over which your petitioner presides. 
For these reasons, it is not possible for your petitioner to give to 
an institution of learning such as was contemplated by the said 
testatrix, the care and attention which it needs at the hands of one 
charged therewith. Nor is it at all probable that any successor of 
your petitioner in the said office will be able to give to the said 
institution the necessary care and attention to secure its success- 
ful administration. It also happens that changes in the office of 
bishop of such a jurisdiction as your petitioner's are not infre- 
quent and such changes are necessarily accompanied with differ- 
ences of opinion as to the policy of such an institution. Where- 
fore, the custom is nearly universal of entrusting the government 
and administration of such institutions to corporations which have 
perpetual succession, and therefore, a settled, consistent, and con- 
tinuous policy, unaffected by the incidental changes in the officers 
thereof. It is also likely to happen between the vacancy of said of- 
fice and the refilling thereof, a considerable period of time will 
elapse and during such vacancy there can necessarily be no person 
to hold and discharge the said trust, save by appointment of this 
court. During such periods of vacancy, which may extend to a pe- 
riod of two or three years, many difficulties and complications are 
likely to arise in the care of the said property and the administra- 
tion of the said trust and the collection and disbursement of the 
said trust funds, which difficulties and complications, it is easy to 
foresee, may endanger the institution and must certainly impair 
its usefulness and efficiency." 

He said that when he accepted it he was well aware of the 
difficulties, to avoid which he made an agreement (presented as 
Exhibit B) with Rev. Thos. O'Neil and others; but being advised 
by Counsel that he could not make such an agreement without 
approval of the Court, he now tenders his resignation in order to 
accomplish more effectually the object of that document. 

He then went on to say that there is a certain corporation 
called Creighton University, organized according to the laws of 
Nebraska, that the trustees of this University are the same per- 
sons with whom he made the agreement already referred to; that 
they are men of long experience and great learning, peculiarly fit- 
ted to discharge this trust, which they are willing to accept; that 



COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. $1 

they and their successors are certain to be members of the Church 
under whose supervision Mrs. Creighton wished the College to be 
placed ; and that her purpose will be fully gained by substituting 
them for himself as trustees. 

The Court accepted his resignation, approving of his reasons 
and statement of facts, and transferred the trust to Thomas 
O'Neil and others, under the name of Creighton University. In 
doing this, the Court added that 

1. It approved the Bishop's administration in all respects, 
and as soon as he executes the necessary deeds, he shall be wholly 
released, as fully and completely as if he had never accepted the 
charge, and that his successors in the office of Bishop of Omaha 
shall forever be excluded from the trust, as if it had never in any 
way been reposed in the incumbent of that office. 

2. Creighton University may erect upon the College lands, 
buildings for technical and professional schools, but no part of the 
buildings now erected shall be used for such schools, nor shall any 
part of the trust funds be applied to them ; but the buildings and 
funds mentioned shall be sacredly applied to the maintenance of 
an academic department, in which shall alone be taught the sub- 
jects and branches of learning constituting liberal education and 
this department shall be distinguished from all others and known 
by the name of Creighton College. It shall also be permissible for 
the University to erect on the college ground a Collegiate Church 
and maintain service therein. 

3. It shall be permissible for the University to invest the 
trust funds at its own sole discretion, but only in mortgages on 
real estate situated in this State and twice the ascertained value 
of the debt. United States, State of Nebraska, County or City 
bonds. 

4. It shall be the duty of the executive officers, on the first 
day of July in each year, to file in the Chancery of the Bishop of 
Omaha, and also in the office of the President of the University, 
a report of all the transactions of the University in respect to 
these trust funds during the preceding year, which report shall be 
open to the inspection of each of the parties thereto and their 
successors and of the heirs and legal representatives of the said 
testatrix, and shall set forth at large the following facts : 



52 COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 

(a) What is the aggregate amount of the principal of the 
trust funds. 

(b) What additions have been made, from what source and 
when. 

(c) In what securities the trust funds are now invested. 

(d) What has been received on account of interest. 

(e) What profits remain unexpended at the date of the re- 
port. 

(f) What sums derived from the trust during the year have 
been applied to the purposes of the school. 

(g) What has been received from the principal of the trust 
funds, and from what securities respectively it has been derived; 
and when, and how, and in what new securities it has been re- 
invested. 

But it shall not be necessary to state in the report the detail 
of the expenditures of moneys properly applicable to maintenance, 
but such expenses shall be at the sole discretion of the University. 

5. Inasmuch as the testatrix was moved to make the bequest 
by her affection for her late husband and designed the school for- 
ever to remain in his memory, it shall not be permissible for the 
University to change its name or that of the College, so as to 
omit the family name from the title by which either University or 
College shall be known either in law or common parlance. 

By Deed of Trust, executed on December 4th, 1879, the 
Right Rev. James O'Connor, D.D., conveyed all the property and 
securities of Creighton College to The Creighton University. By 
this conveyance the entire trust passed from the Right Rev. 
Bishop and his successors to The Creighton University and its 
successors, the trust to be held and administered upon the same 
terms and conditions and for the same purposes, for which it was 
originally bequeathed by Mrs. Mary Lucretia Creighton. The 
position, therefore, of the Creighton University relative to the 
Creighton College, its property and securities, as derived from the 
bequest of Mrs. Creighton, is that of perpetual Trustee of Creigh- 
ton College, according to the spirit of article 4, of "Exhibit B," 
given later in this chapter. 

The funds invested for the support of the College had been 
increased from the division of the residue of the estate of Mrs. 



COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 53 

Mary Lucretia Creighton, so that when the Creighton University 
accepted the trust, the endowment fund amounted to $147,500. 
To those who are familiar only with the million-dollar endow- 
ments of other Universities and Colleges, this must appear a very 
modest sum. Even to those experienced in the management of 
Catholic Colleges, it must seem a hazardous undertaking to build 
up and develop a free college on a financial basis of nothing more 
than the annual interest of $147,500. But the Jesuits, like most 
of the teaching orders of the Catholic Church, receive no salary 
for their labor, and though in this particular instance they fully 
realized the financial difficulties, they consented to face them. In 
this, no doubt, they were animated by the hope of seeing restored 
one of the chief glories of their history, the bestowal of gratuitous 
education, such as was given by their predecessors in the older 
and more fortunate days of the order, when all Jesuit Colleges 
and Universities were endowed and free institutions. The venture 
has thus far met with unexpected success, thanks to good friends, 
and in particular to John A. Creighton and his lamented wife, 
both of whom generously seconded the noble purpose of the orig- 
inal Founders, and by large benefactions carried on the good 
work to a development made possible only by their munificence. 

The "Exhibit B," to which reference was made in the petition 
of Bishop O'Connor, in translation from the Latin, runs as fol- 
lows : 

Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, Bishop of Dibona, in partibus in- 
fidelium, Vicar-Apostolic in the state of Nebraska, party of the 
first part, and Rev. Father Thomas O'Neil, S. J., Provincial of the 
Missouri Province, party of the second part, by this instrument 
agree upon the following points with regard to the establishment 
of the Society of Jesus in the above mentioned diocese or vicariate, 
into which territory it is admitted through the good will of the 
aforesaid Rt. Rev. Vicar-Apostolic, in order that in the city of 
Omaha and his district it may exercise- its ministry and do other 
works for the salvation of souls according to its institute. 

First, the aforesaid James O'Connor, for himself and his 
successors, grants to Rev. Thomas O'Neil and similarly to his 
successors, without price, the free use and ownership for the 
space of ninety-nine years of the property known as "Creighton 



54 COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 

College" with the buildings now erected or in future to be erected 
on the same ground, in the city of Omaha of the state of Nebraska, 
and he promises that he will every year hand over to the superior 
or Rector who happens to preside over said College, to be spent 
by him freely and without interference for the end intended, the 
entire revenue accruing from the bequest left by Mrs. Creighton 
for the foundation of said College. 

Secondly, the Rev. Thomas O'Neil, for himself and his suc- 
cessors, undertakes the obligation of holding and administering 
said college and of maintaining classes according to the conditions 
of the legacy and the intention of the testatrix named above. 

Thirdly, if, however, at any time the revenues from the be- 
quest are not sufficient for the support of the college faculty, the 
deficit may be made up by tuition fees imposed pro rata upon the 
students, as may seem good to the Rector and his consultors. 

Fourthly, it was further stipulated between the same con- 
tracting parties, that after the lapse of ninety-nine years the party 
of the second part will have the absolute right of renewing the 
contract for another ninety-nine years under the same conditions, 
and so on forever. 

Fifthly, in addition to the College and connected with the 
same, it shall be permitted to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus 
to build a Church and hold divine service in it as they may see fit 
(pro libitu) with a concourse of people, but without any parochial 
rights and obligations. 

Sixthly, but when the number of Catholic inhabitants of 
Omaha shall have increased to such an extent that in addition to 
the two parishes already existing it shall seem necessary to erect 
a third parish, one of these shall be assigned to the care of the 
Jesuit Fathers. 

Rev. E. A. Higgins, who succeeded Rev. Thomas O'Neil as. 
Provincial of the Missouri Province^ writing about the acceptance 
of the College by the Society, says : 

"The central building was put up, in accordance with the pro- 
visions of the will, under the superintendence of James Creighton. 
The main building, back of the parlors, was built according to the 
method of the Christian Brothers, not with a corridor down the 
center, but with doors opening from room to room and the par- 



COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 55 

titions of all the rooms were of glass from the ceiling to about 
five feet from the floor ; so that one Brother on duty can watch all 
the rooms. The College was never given over to the Brothers. 

"Father O'Neil was not disposed to accept it. The Bishop 
brought pressure to bear upon him through Fr. General or rather 
through Fr. Weld, then the English Assistant at Fiesole. Fr. 
O'Neil was persuaded to take the place -conditionally and on trial, 
and sent Fr. Shafifel there with a small Community. 

"When I entered on office, in 1879, we had to determine 
whether we would accept the trust in definite legal form, or not. 
Though there was some difference of opinion about it, the pre- 
vailing sentiment was in favor of it. Father Converse, Provin- 
cial Procurator, examined into the financial conditions and re- 
ported in favor of it. Fr. General recommended that we comply 
with the Bishop's urgent request. Then Mr. Woolworth was em- 
ployed to draw up the legal papers making the transfer of the 
Trust from the Bishop to the Missouri Province of the Society of 
Jesus. There were certain conditions imposed by the Court to 
safeguard the provisions of the Creighton Will ; these are to be 
found in the deed of transfer and are extremely important and 
should be borne in mind by those concerned to avoid complica- 
tions that might arise if they were neglected. 

"As to the sufficiency of the endowment at that time, we were 
all satisfied that it would be enough for all needs for some years ; 
and under Father Shaffel's administration and for some years 
longer, it was more than enough. To provide a larger income in 
the future, the Charter of the College allowed us to charge a tu- 
ition fee if that should become necessary. John Creighton was a 
party to the transaction of transferring the Trust from the Bishop 
to our Society and was very urgent with us to consent. He also 
agreed to the clause in the charter providing for a tuition fee : but 
he said distinctly and significantly, that it would never be done 
and Fr. O'Neil and myself understood this to mean that it would 
never be necessary. We did not take this as binding him legally 
or even morally to increase the endowment, but we looked on it as 
an intimation, though not a promise, that he would come to the 
aid of the College when it should need help. He has done so very 
nobly. 

"When we took the place, the prospects for a Catholic Col- 



56 COLLEGE TRANSFERRED TO THE JESUITS. 

lege were not bright. We knew that many years must elapse be- 
fore the classes could be filled. There were no Catholic Schools 
in Omaha and of course we could expect but few boys from the 
public schools. The first years then, were devoted to the teach- 
ing of the lower classes and the College was only a grammar 
school preparing the boys for the Academic or high school classes. 
The success in the twenty years since we took hold of it, is ex- 
tremely gratifying and creditable to those who did the work dur- 
ing those years. 

"There came a period, under one of my successors when the 
fortunes of Creighton seemed to wane. The Provincial was dis- 
couraged. Whether the discouragement originated with him and 
was communicated to the College, or vice versa, it is certain that 
the school languished and there was much talk about giving up 
the place. I think the Bishop was approached about taking back 
the Trust, but he would not listen to it. Then it was that the 
German Fathers were offered the place by our Provincial. They 
sent some one to look over the situation but he reported unfavor- 
ably because we are only Trustees, and because the endowment 
fund was too small. In the opinion of many it was fortunate for 
the Creighton University, that the offer was rejected by the 
Fathers of the Buffalo Mission. 

"Bishop O'Connor, who was a man of large ideas, looked 
upon the College as destined to do a most important work and to 
exercise a wide-spread influence on the future of the Catholic 
Church not only in the city of Omaha, but in the whole of Ne- 
braska and the neighboring States. His enthusiasm on this point 
was catching. One could not listen to the eloquent expression of 
his views without sharing in them to some extent. He had suc- 
ceeded in persuading Fr. Weld and Fr. General that an immense 
field for good was opened to the Society in this new state and that 
the opportunity must not be neglected. Father O'Neil came to 
take a very encouraging view of the situation, which he was un- 
willing to abandon even when the fortunes of the College seemed 
to be at their lowest ebb. Father O'Neil's successor saw no rea- 
son for apprehension ; on the contrary, when there was a question 
of giving up Creighton, he opposed it strongly in every way in his 
power. Our best hopes and most sanguine expectations are be- 
ing fully realized." 



CHAPTER VIII. 



HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 

DECEMBER 6th, 1877, Father R. A. Shaffel arrived from 
Chicago, to prepare for the opening of the College in the 
beginning of January. He at once assumed the duties of chaplain 
of St. Catherine's Academy, and spiritual director of the other 
houses of the Sisters of Mercy in Omaha. At the request of the 
Bishop, he visited the Catholic families of the City and later as- 
sisted Father Kelly at the Cathedral. James Creighton bought 
the necessary furniture for the little cottage next to the convent; 
and here Father Shaffel lived until the interior of the College was 
sufficiently finished for occupancy. 

The first retreat of the clergy of the diocese took place in the 
College building towards the end of July. It was given by Father 
Walter H. Hill. The Bishop assisted at all the exercises. 

On the 22nd of August, 1878, the faculty of the new College 
began to arrive. Father Hubert Peters, Messrs. A. Beile, M. 
Eicher and W. Rigge coming that day. Mr. Edward A. O'Brien 
and Mrs. Hall, both seculars, came a few days later from Chicago. 

The first band of Jesuits was met at the depot by Father 
Shaffel. In those days, the depot was a large structure consisting 
of an iron roof without pillars, covering about eight railroad 
tracks, and supported by brick walls, pierced with many large 
windows on the northern and southern sides, but entirely open 
from top to bottom on the eastern and western ends. The Union 
Pacific, at that time, allowed no train of cars but its own to enter 
this depot. 

The only bridge across the River at Omaha then was owned 
by the same Company. Every passenger was charged twenty-five 
cents ; and it cost a dollar a ton to convey merchandise across the 
bridge. 

Father Shaffel and his staff of professors were unknown to 
. (57) 



58 HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 

each other, because they had never met before ; but identification 
was not difficult. 

In 1878, Creighton College consisted only of what has been 
called the "Main Building." It presented a somewhat isolated 
appearance. It was considered one of the most important, as well 
as one of the finest buildings in the city, and from the New Year's 
Illustrated Bee of 1879 down to the latest editions of the local 
illustrated papers and magazines, it has always received due rec- 
ognition. It was handsomely finished in St. Louis pressed brick 
and trimmed with Kansas limestone, and is today as fine and as 
strong as on the day it was built. 

The grounds measured 526 feet from north to south and 561 
feet from east to west, practically the same as at present, except 
for a lot measuring no feet, from east to west, and running 24Q 
feet south from Webster Street. A large dwelling house then 
stood upon this property near its northeastern end. A stable, 
laundry and other small buildings were located within fifty feet of 
the main entrance of the College until 1886, when the liberality 
of John A, Creighton enabled the University to purchase the 
building and lot, remove the objectionable features and fit out the 
house as a temporar}^ dwelling-place for the increased stafif of pro- 
fessors. Upon the completion of the south wing of the College 
in 1889, this building was sold and removed. 

In the neighborhood of Creighton College in 1878, no street 
grading had yet been done. The top of the hill had been leveled 
somewhat and the superfluous earth used to form the two terraces 
which were so conspicuous a landmark from the west, and which 
remained substantially until 1901. 

The College opened on Monday, September 2nd, 1878, with 
one hundred and twenty students in attendance. Boys were not 
admitted until they were able to read in the Second Reader !. 
Father Shaffel was President and Prefect of studies ; Father Pet- 
ers, Prefect of discipline ; Mr. Beile taught Third Humanities ; Mr. 
Eicher, First English; Mr. O'Brien, Second English; Mrs. Hall, 
Third English. On Sunday, September 29th, the first sermon to 
the students and externs was preached in the College Chapel. It 
was difficult to accustom the boys to regular attendance at school, 
and it took all the time of Fathers Shafifel and Peters to look up 
the absentees. The low standard of the studies at that time can 



HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 59 

be judged by this : The Enghsh branches of the Third Human- 
ities, which was then the highest class, were on a par with those 
of the Sixth Reader class ; yet the number in that highest class 
was so small, that its teacher, Mr. Beile, was able to take, in ad- 
dition, some of the boys previously taught by Mr. Richer. At this 
early date, quite a number of non-Catholics attended. 

The large hall on the third floor which has been so useful to 
the College for Commencements, Lectures, Public Debates, and 
Contests, was for many years, used mainly as a College Chapel. 
Mass was first said in it for the students and the people on Sun- 
day, September 8th, 1878, at 9 o'clock. There was no singing 
during the services until March 9, 1879. The students did not as- 
sist at Mass on week days until several years later. Friday night, 
February 21st, 1879, the first public entertainment was held in the 
College Hall. It was under the management of Professor Ed. 
O'Brien, and was for the benefit of the poor. There was a variety 
of songs and declamations, but the main part of the program was 
the representation in costume of the "Trial of Robert Emmet," 
Professor O'Brien himself personating the character in a masterly 
manner. 

"The parents of the boys," writes Father Richer, "belonged, 
for the most part, to the working class. Many of them lived in 
the poorer quarters of the town and not a few of them were poor. 
They were, however, good, pious, religious people, and their chil- 
dren, increasing daily in inherited piety and virtue, were not slow 
in making earnest endeavors to put on that politeness and refine- 
ment of manner, which one looks for with education." 

In 1879 the old Bardstown Library was bought with the help 
of John A. Creighton. A slice of the McCreary property in front 
of the College was also secured with the help of the same gen- 
erous patron. 

Father James A. Dowling, who was one of the pioneer Vice- 
Presidents, furnishes some interesting reminiscences. "In May, 
1881, I arrived in Omaha, after a nineteen hours' ride from Chi- 
cago. In those days eastern trains only came as far as the Trans- 
fer Station in Council Blufifs, and we were taken over the U. P. 
Bridge in the 'Dummy,' arriving at the College a little before one 
o'clock in the afternoon. At that time. Father Miles, the only 
priest at the College, was aided by three Scholastics. I was at 



60 HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 

once assigned to the office of Vice-President, for the rest of the 
scholastic year. In 1881, the highest class was the 1st Academic, 
and on account of the small number of pupils it contained, was 
taught by the same Professor as the 2nd Academic. Besides these 
there were two Rudiments Classes, two Commercial Classes and 
the 3rd Academic. The lower classes were the most numerous, 
each class of Rudiments containing about fifty pupils. In those 
days, the large boy was decidedly in the minority. 

"Those who see Omaha's Avenues of the present day, can 
appreciate them the more by the comparison with the muddy, un- 
■paved streets of twenty-two years ago. It was said, in the early 
days, that two or three of the business streets were paved ; but if 
so, it was known only to the oldest inhabitant, for so much mud 
"Was tracked in from the side streets as to make the paving utterly 
invisible. I remember one day that Fr. Varsi, at that time Pro- 
A^incial of the California Mission, passed through on his way east. 
As he desired to make a call on Bishop O'Connor, we took a car- 
riage and started for the Bishop's residence at 9th and Harney. 
Though we got along with 'difficulty, owing to the condition of 
the streets, we fared well at first, compared with what befell us 
when we arrived opposite the residence. The carriage could 
neither go forward nor backward, and we were compelled to 
alight in the middle of the street, and wade to the sidewalk in 
mud more than ankle deep, much to our chagrin, and the good 
Bishop's surprise, as we appeared before him covered with 
-Ornaha 'real estate.' Everything was primitive in those days. 
The first catalogue of the College was printed in 1883." 

Speaking of those times. Father Patrick A. Murphy says : 
"Though the College was free, the number of students was 
■small, which, however, is no valid proof that they all belonged to 
the select aristocracy. They could neither understand the beauty 
-of Greek, nor the utility of Latin. Many came to hibernate and 
when summer dawned they preferred to follow the occupation of 
the Hebrews under Pharaoh ; for Omaha was noted for its ex- 
-cellent quality of brick clay. North of the College was a rich pas- 
ture terraced west to 26th Street, the home of the bear and the 
chickens ; it supplied a common resting place for horse or man, 
four cows and the setting sun. Among the quadrupeds, was the 
-electric cow, so called because at the approach of any atmospheric 



HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 6 1 

disturbance she invariably gazed at the moon that the dip of her 
needle might point more graphically toward the magnetic pole." 

In August, 1882, Father Thos. H. Miles was Rector, Father 
P. J. Leeson, Vice-President ; Mr. J. Bergin and Mr. M. Owens, 
the scholastic element. Brother T. Murphy and Brother Baum- 
gartner made up the rest of the little family. Of that period Fa- 
ther Hubert J. Gartland writes : "There were four secular teach- 
ers that year ; Dr. O'Rourke and Messrs. E. O'Brien, F. McKenna 
and C. McKenna. The highest class was hardly up to First 
Academic. We had over 260 boys, a rather mixed crowd of large 
and small — some very old ones and many from the country dis- 
tricts. That summer we acquired an outdoor gymnasium, consist- 
ing of a ring-swing, horizontal bar, parallel bars, and a large 
grasshopper. They were the only things of the kind in the neigh- 
borhood and consequently attracted considerable attention. In 
1883 came the first acquisition to the science department: a lathe 
with all the wood working apparatus ; a set of steam-fitting tools ; 
and many odds and ends of implements which we put into the 
shop in the basement. Gradually we got together a collection that 
we were proud of. Before long we had a scientific lecture by Fa- 
ther A. A. Lambert on the chemistry of combustion. Some time 
in October, 1883, Father Joseph Zealand replaced Father Thomas 
H. Miles as Rector. On Ash Wednesday, 1883, a consignment of 
apparatus from London arrived, several large boxes and many 
barrels. I shall never forget the eagerness with which I assisted 
in opening the various packages. Such beautiful things I had 
never before seen, much less handled. The telescope, lantern, mi- 
croscope and the huge induction coil, and all the other instru- 
ments were the talk of the town. Then began the fitting up of a 
room to be used as a cabinet. Meanwhile the laboratory was 
planned and built, and the work we did was astonishing; day and 
night we were working and everything was in motion. I look 
back now and wonder how it all came to pass, and how we ever 
stood the rush. That year closed with a grand 'hurrah' and 
Creighton College was popular with all classes." 

At this time Father Lambert was attracting great attention 
by his preaching, lectures and scientific attainments. Of him Fa- 
ther Hoffend says : "Our Prefect of Studies was always exceed- 
ingly busy. At one time he undertook to preach an eight days" 



62 HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. 

mission, all alone in Holy Family Church, performing at the same 
time the duties of his office as Prefect of Studies and teaching a 
class. Even one of the newspapers remarked that he was by far 
the busiest man in the city of Omaha. During the course of the 
year he also gave some illustrated lectures. In the spring of -'84 
for two or three months, he lectured on elementary chemistry to 
a class of 30 or 40 young doctors, lawyers and druggists." 

"Father Zealand," says Father Lambert, "did not relish the 
idea of the Vice-President being absent, so I agreed to stay and 
give no missions, except three or four which I had promised. That 
year I built the chemical laboratory and equipped it with all its 
chemicals and glassware. Father Zealand, seeing how opposed 
the people and the boys were to the classics, especially Greek, and 
that so very few went into the classical course, or would continue 
after the second year, determined, after getting the advice of the 
consultors and the consent of the Provincial Council, to drop 
Greek for a while. In the Catalogue sent to other Colleges a 
leaflet was inserted explaining why Greek was omitted, for a time 
only, until the prejudice against classical studies should be re- 
moved. When Bishop O'Connor heard of it, he was pleased with 
the move, for he had often heard the best people of Omaha find 
fault with the College because it devoted too much time to the 
classics, and especially Greek." 

The year 1884-1885 opened with Father Hugh M. Finnegan 
as Rector, Father Murphy, Vice-President, and Father James J. 
O'Meara in the highest class. Mr. Mulconry was professor of 
physics and Mr. Gartland of chemistry. An evening class in 
chemistry had been started and conducted by Father Lambert. 
That year it continued with very poor success and closed early. 

The year 1885-1886 found Father M. P. Dowling at the head 
of affairs, Father O'Meara and Father J. Rigge, with Mr. John 
B. Hemann, Mr. James Flannery and Mr. Gartland comprising 
the Jesuit portion of the faculty. The Catalogue of 1885-1886 
devotes a page or two to the public lectures given in the course of 
that year. 




Old (§re/os£pNj, . _ _ _ ■■^^^,- 




HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 

THE history of the Holy Family Parish will doubtless be 
written some day, but its historian has not yet appeared. 
Members of the Society of Jesus formerly connected with it, have 
been far too modest in recording their deeds. For lack of data 
which only the surviving pastors could furnish, we must content 
ourselves with the barest outlines of the best known facts and deal 
with that parish only in so far as its history is interlaced with that 
of Creighton College. 

On the 15th day of May, 1881, Father R. A. Shaffel as- 
sumed charge. At that time the Church consisted of a stone base- 
ment whose top was about level with the street. It had been con- 
structed hastily, without sufficient mortar, and was already in a 
crumbling condition. During a mission that was given there, the 
Fathers were hearing confessions one evening, when a storm 
came up. Father Damen saw something shining like glass on the 
floor in front of his confessional, and wondering what it was, 
stepped out to investigate, only to find himself walking in water, 
which had come through the wall. A new church was clearly a 
necessity, though it could not be begun until April, 1883, nearly 
two years later. The stones of the old foundation were used for 
the new building. The Church was dedicated in October of the 
same year. The upper part of the structure was used for a 
church, the lower part for a school, and back of the Church was 
the residence ; all practically under the same roof. A small frame 
school was built on 27th and Decatur Streets, in July, 1887, to 
accommodate the small children of the northwestern part of the 
parish, for whom the central school would be too distant. Some 
years later, when the Holy Family Church was given up to the 
Bishop and a new parish was assigned to the Jesuits, with St. 
John's Church as a center, this same school house was moved to a 

(63) 



64 THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 

vacant lot belonging to the University, on California Street, and 
that, together with an old residence on the same ground, fur- 
nished school accommodations to St. John's Parish for several 
years. 

In November, 1881, the limits of the parish were defined and 
the deeds of the property were made over to the Society, in the 
name of Creighton University, according to the provisions of the 
following ecclesiastical agreement or covenant between the 
Bishop of Omaha and the Provincial. 

"This indenture between the Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, 
Bishop of Dibona, i. p. inf.. Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska, on the 
one part, and the Rev. Edward A. Higgins, Provincial of the So- 
ciety of Jesus in the Province of Missouri, on the other part, 

WITNESSETH : 

"ist. That the said Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, for himself 
and for his successors in office by these presents agrees to give 
over, convey, transfer, and deliver to the Jesuit Fathers of the 
Missouri Province, the parish and congregation of the Holy Fam- 
ily in the city of Omaha, state of Nebraska, with all the property 
of whatsoever kind belonging to said parish and congregation^ 
such as lots, house, church, school, etc., together with their divers 
appurtenances, to be owned, held and administered by the said 
Fathers, for the use and benefit of the said parish and congrega- 
tion of the Holy Family. 

"2nd. The limits of the said Parish are hereby defined to be : 

On the east side, the line of the Missouri River ; on the south, 
the north side of Cass Street ; on the west side, when it shall be- 
come necessary to establish another parish in that direction, the di- 
viding line shall be the east side of State Street, and its continua- 
tion ; on the north side, whenever it shall become necessary to es- 
tablish another parish in that direction, the dividing line shall be 
the south side of Lake Street, and its continuation. 

"3rd. Should it be found at some future time necessary or 
expedient, for the convenience of the people in the Holy Family 
Parish, to change the location of the Parish Church, or of the 
Parish School, or to build another school for the children of the 
Parish, the permission and power to do so are hereby given and 
guaranteed. 



THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 65 

''4th. And should the number of German and Bohemian 
families within the limits of the said Holy Family Parish become 
so large as to require a national church for their use, the Jesuit 
Fathers shall have power and the right to build such church, to- 
gether with pastoral residence and such school or schools as may 
be needed. 

"5th. Ihe Rev. Edward A. Higgins, Provincial of the Mis- 
souri Province of the Society of Jesus, for himself and his suc- 
cessors in office, hereby agrees to accept the transfer, conveyance 
and delivery of said Holy Family Parish with all the property be- 
longing thereto, including also the lawful debts of said parish, 
with the boundaries and limits of said parish, as above described 
and defined, and he binds himself and his successors in office to 
provide for the administration of the spiritual and temporal af- 
fairs of the said Parish, in accordance with the Canon Law of the 
Church, the laws of the Diocese and the Rules and Privileges of 
the Society of Jesus. 

"6th. It shall not be lawful to change, alter or modify the 
terms of this covenant, or the limits and boundaries of the above 
named parish without the mutual consent and agreement of both 
the contracting parties. 

November 4, 1881. 

(Signed) Rev. James O'Connor, 

Ep. Dib. Vic. Af. Neb. 

Edward A. Higgins, S. J. 

Provincial. ' ' 

Later on it will be seen that, at the request of Bishop Scan- 
nell, the privileges guaranteed to the Society by this document 
were relinquished. 

Father Shaffel was appointed Vicar-General of the Diocese 
in the early part of 1883, and continued in the office until the end 
of July, 1889, when he removed to Osage Mission, Kansas. After 
he had been Vicar-General about one year, a remonstrance came 
from the Very Reverend Father General, who did not consider it 
according to the institute for any of the Society to hold such an 
ecclesiastical dignity. Bishop O'Connor, however, wrote to Rome 
and received an authorization overruling the objections of the 
Father General. In the spring of 1888, when the Bishop paid his 
visit "ad limina," Father Shaffel acted as administrator of the 



66 THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 

Diocese and attorney, in fact, for the Bishop's temporal afifairs, 
during his three months' absence. 

In March, 1889, Father F. G. Hillman became superior. Dur- 
ing that same year, St. CeciHa's Parish on the west and Sacred 
Heart Parish on the north, were cut off from the district which or- 
iginally belonged to the Holy Family. Notwithstanding this, in 
1891, the Parish had, in its limits, 450 families, attended by two 
priests. Flourishing sodalities, as well as the Apostleship of 
Prayer and St. Vincent de Paul Association, gave evidence of a 
vigorous spiritual life among the people. 

In April, 1892, Father F. G. Hillman, with the approval of 
the Provincial, Father Frieden, purchased a half block at 21st and 
Charles streets for $37,000.00, intending to use it as a site for a 
new church, school and residence. The hard times which over- 
took Omaha shortly afterwards, before much of the purchase 
price had been paid, depreciated this property to such an extent 
that it became a source of the greatest anxiety to the parish and to 
the superiors of the Society. As the Church was not incorporated, 
its property was held in the name of the University. Father 
James Hoeffer, then President, did not wish to have the Univer- 
sity concerned in the transaction, but by order of the Provincial, 
he signed the note and contract, feeling persuaded that he assumed 
thereby no risk which the Church would not make secure. The 
owner knew that, though the instrument was signed by Father 
Hoeffer, as President of the University, it was really the act and 
interest of Father Hillman and the Holy Family Church ; for there 
were several acknowledgments of that fact contained in his re- 
ceipts and letters. 

At different times, between May 11, 1892 and December 7, 
1895, $13,000 of the principal and all of the interest up to Decem- 
ber 7, 1895, were paid, either by the President of the University, 
the pastor of the Church, or the real estate agent, indiscrimi- 
nately ; all, however, acting for the Holy Family Church. 

When the members of the Parish were notified of the con- 
tract, they refused to ratify it ; so did the Bishop. Neither would 
acknowledge this as a parish debt. The contract being thus re- 
pudiated the debt was assumed by the ecclesiastical superiors of 
Father Hillman, in order that the effects of his action might not 
fall on Creigliton University, which was not deriving any bene- 



THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 6/ 

fit whatever from the transaction. They accepted the debt because 
they supposed that by sacrificing all that had been paid, the owner 
would release Creighton University from the contract; but when 
this was proposed, he refused to accept anything but payment of 
the entire purchase price, with interest. After this time, January 
1896, no payment of either principal or interest was made by the 
University, the Church, or any one else. 

That this was long a burning question, appears from the Min- 
utes of the Meeting of the parishoners held January 19, 1896, after 
Father C. J. Lagae became Superior. The chairman said : "Our 
pastor has been with us but a short time and finds our finances 
in a critical condition. He has considered the subject carefully 
and has come to the conclusion that it is doubtful whether we can 
carry the enormous load of debt caused by the purchase of ground 
for a new church. He has made a statement to his superiors in 
the order and is authorized to make several propositions on the 
part of the Provincial." The one accepted handed over the prop- 
erty to the Missouri Province, provided it would assume all the 
debt, $37,000.00, plus the unpaid interest, and on its part the par- 
ish engaged to make no claim for the $4,500.00 of interest already 
paid by it. The sense of the meeting was thus summed up by 
Major John B. Fur ay : 

'T have always thought that if some one whom I held in high 
esteem had gone fishing, and had got a snake on his hook instead 
of a fish, that it was my duty to help him get the snake off the 
hook. That is the way I feel in this case. 

"Let the Province of Missouri take this real estate as they 
have cheerfully, most cheerfully proposed to do, and, when in 
God's good time, the property again appreciates, as we reasonably 
hope it will, then the Missouri Province will not find more willing 
hearts, or more promising hands, returning all the bread they are 
now casting upon the waters, in extending to us this blessed char- 
ity. I am in favor of the proposition to let the past be forgotten. 
Let it go ; let them have the whole of the property, and they cer- 
tainly deserve it, when they pay, at least three times what it is now 
worth." 

Shortly after the appointment of Rev. M. P. Dowling, as 
President of the University, sometime in November, 1898, the 
owner's son wrote to him informing him of the existence of this 



68 THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 

contract and asking him what the University proposed to do about 
paying up, as the property had already been sold for taxes. On 
looking over the record of the Board of Trustees' meeting, Father 
Dowling found the following facts, which were communicated to 
the inquirer through an attorney : 

"i. Nowhere was there any authorization given him to pay 
any money for this property in the name of Creighton University. 
No mention was made in the minutes of any meeting of such a 
contract; and he did not see how he could pay over any money 
without violating his trust. 

"2. The previous Presidents who paid money to the owner 
in the name of the University must have done so as agents of Holy 
Family Church and with means furnished them ; and if they had 
paid money belonging to Creighton University, they would have 
acted without authority. Looking over the act of incorporation, 
he found that the corporation could not legally purchase such 
property for such purposes, because it can only 'hold all kinds of 
real estate necessary to accomplish the purpose of the corpora- 
tion.' For instance, it can acquire property from which revenue 
may come for the maintenance of the institution, but not church 
property to be held for religious purposes. In other words, the 
previous representatives of Creighton University acted ultra vires, 
if they pretended to represent the institution in this contract and 
the present incumbent would act ultra vires if he paid out for this 
purpose money belonging to the University ; and he could pay only 
such money as the Church or some interested party might see fit 
to put into his hands for such purpose. He is willing to sacrifice 
any payments made by his predecessors as agents of the Church 
and he will make no claim for money so expended hitherto, pro- 
vided the owner takes the property and cancels the contract." 

After considerable negotiation, the owner agreed to cancel 
the contract and release the University from all obligation pro- 
vided he was allowed to keep what money had already been re- 
ceived by him. This agreement was made binding by a decree of 
court and the owner paid the court expenses. Thus, after the 
parish had lost $4,500 and the Missouri Province $13,000, the 
property reverted to its original owner — but at that time it was not 
w^orth half the $28,000 still claimed by him. 

The satisfactory settlement of this case was due to the skil- 



THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH. 69 

ful management of Attorney J. J. O'Connor, whose efficient ser- 
vices were in many instances, valuable to the College. 

Release from this burden seems to have given new courage 
to the parishioners ; for in August of the same year they held a 
meeting at which they unanimously resolved : "That we expend in 
the neighborhood of $6,000 for the erection of a hall for the gen- 
eral use of the parish and that Father Lagae be requested to get 
permission from the proper officials of the Church and Provincial 
of the Missouri Province to build the same." 

The project was not carried out; but five months later, when 
the church was handed over to the Bishop, it was free of debt and 
there was in the treasury, $1,500, which was likewise transferred 
to the Bishop. 

The various incidents e'humerated above caused considerable 
friction between the authorities of the University and the repre- 
sentatives of the parish ; but nothing interfered with the excellent 
spiritual results of the zealous labors of Fathers Hillman, Lagae, 
A. K. Meyer, and Peter Koopmans. The last named priest who, 
many years, served the parish, would deserve an extended notice 
and eulogy, if our scope permitted it. 

On January 5, 1897, the Provincial informed Father Lagae 
that the parish should be handed over to the Bishop and that 
Father Joseph Real would act as pastor until a secular priest was 
appointed. The causes leading up to this determination, will ap- 
pear in a subsequent chapter. 



Labor and Perseverance. 




Solus non sufficit ignis. 



CHAPTER X. 



IN THE EIGHTIES. 



THROUGH the kindness of one who was then a student, we 
are enabled to give, in this and the following chapter, a pen 
picture of Creighton College during the '8o's. 

"Sixteen eventful years have sketched their wondrous doings 
on the scroll of time, since I went forth from the classic walls of 
'Old Creighton,' and scraped from my feet the mud of that fair 
hamlet of which John G. Saxe (unjustly, of course), wrote 
in by-gone days : 

'Has't ever been to Omaha, 
Where rolls the dark Missouri down, 
Where six strong horses scarce can pull 
An empty wagon through the town?' 

"Moreover, during all that time I have fallen in with but as 
many ex-Creightons as I have thumbs — and being but an ordinary 
individual, I have only the usual quota. 

"You have asked me for some items of interest relative to 
the early days at Creighton. If I were perfectly frank with you, 
I fear that I ought to say, 'My pen is rusty, and the key to the 
case in which incidents of that sort are pigeon-holed, is lost.' But 
you persist : 'Use a pencil and cajole your memory.' Well, I'll 
try. 

"The exact date upon which I entered Creighton is a secret 
I reveal to but few (I don't wish to be considered a piece of an- 
tique bric-a-brac) : sufficient to say — I was there when that insti- 
tution was still in swaddling clothes. In those early days, the pre- 
tentious proteges of the state who attended the great pile at the 
head of Capitol Avenue, in derision dubbed our Alma Mater 'The 
Irish High School.' If it had been called 'The Irish School,' one 
could scarcely say that the appellation was at all wide of the mark ; 
for Omaha in those days (I do not know whether it has changed 

(71) 



72 IN THE EIGHTIES. 

any since) , had more than its quota of the 'gens sancta ;' and being 
a proHfic race, it is not at all surprising that the largest propor- 
tion of Creighton students should be of the 'Celtic persuasion,' 
However, though the adjective 'Irish' was becoming enough, that 
of 'High' was a misnomer ; for if memory serves me faithfully the 
most advanced class of the early '8o's would not be within hailing 
distance of your present Freshman Class. Of course, a start had 
to be made and consequently forms even below your lowest Acad- 
emy class were tolerated for several years. Such was the acorn. 
And now quantum miitatus! 

"Away back in the dim distance there looms up a well known 
figure. Let us picture it as we remember it. A radiant face, 
basking in a wilderness of snow white hair ; a stately form carry- 
ing within its breast one of the kindest of hearts, a man always 
jolly, always approachable, with a cheering word and a pleasant 
smile for all. Such, was Father Peters, the Prefect of Discipline of 
those early days. A kinder soul never lived, and in all my college 
days I never knew a man more truly loved, more highly respected. 
It must not be imagined that his kind heart ever made him neglect- 
ful of duty ; as a matter of fact, ( somewhat humiliating, but only 
too true) I remember to have often formed one of a score or more 
standing in anxious expectation outside his office door and wait- 
ing my turn for the birch which he boisterously administered 
within. The ceremony, however, was no sooner over than a joke 
was at hand to dry the tears and a picture mysteriously produced 
to smooth the ruffled dignity of the sorrowful small boy. 

"The 'Big Boys' of those early days were of a kind to exert 
an influence for good and create a true college spirit. Of course, 
to us youngsters, they were the repositories of all sorts of knowl- 
edge ; be that as it may, the real, the lasting influence they exerted 
was of a moral kind ; for they did much — little as they may have 
suspected it — in helping to form the character of their younger 
schoolmates. I can never recall the names of Caldwell Hamilton, 
'Con' Smith, 'Harry' Burkley, 'Ed' Burke, 'Neil' Sullivan, and a 
host of others, without being grateful to them for the many les- 
sons they taught me of true manliness, genuine moral courage, 
and unswerving fidelity to duty. To their memories long life. 

"The first President with whom I had any special relations, 
was Fr. Miles — a typical Southern gentleman, of the good old 



IN THE EIGHTIES. 73 

Stamp. He was the personal friend of every bov in the College, 
i often wonder how many boys he could call by their surname, 
for his custom was to salute every boy with the dignified title of 
'Doctor,' 'Governor.' 'General,' or 'Colonel' — (being from Ken- 
tucky, quite naturally this last was his favorite.) 

"The first formal choir established at Creighton, was formed 
by him. True, we had had singing even before his time, but it 
was mostly done by boys who were trained at home or who could 
read music. Fr. Miles, however, selected some 25 or 30 young 
nightingales, and put them through all the necessary drills him- 
self. I well remember him standing solemnly before us, his 
glasses riding straddle of the very tip of his nose, his violin tucked 
away carefully under his left arm and with his bow as baton, lead- 
ing us on to glory. How delighted he was when we had acquitted 
ourselves well! And. oh! how he detested bad singing! 

"Then, too. his Sunday instruction : the earnest, careful and 
feeling manner in which he read the Epistle and Gospel ; and his 
constant insistence that they were the word of God and should be 
more religiously attended to and more diligently pondered over 
than oratorical flights of the preacher. One day in Catechism 
Class he grew more than ordinarily eloquent on his favorite topic. 
I can almost recall his very words, so impressive was his discourse. 
'The sacred text, my boys, the sacred text. If God calls any of 
you to be dispensers of his holy word, study carefully and insist- 
ently its Sacred Text. Always read the Epistle and Gospel de- 
liberately and with unction, for they are God's own words, my 
boys, they are God's own words. Don't ever read them carelessly 
and. on no account, ever omit them, thinking that your sermon 
will be more effective. No, you cannot improve on what God has 
said ; and hence, if it is a question of dropping the sermon or the 
reading of that portion of Scripture marked out for a particular 
Sunday, why, never hesitate — drop the sermon.' 

"Fr. Miles was replaced as Rector by Fr. Joseph Zealand, and 
after him came Fr. Hugh M. Finnegan. The latter taught science 
to the large boys ; he taught us arithmetic, and though usually 
boys detest arithmetic, under the happy methods of Fr. Finnegan, 
we developed a perfect passion for it. He considered the exam- 
ples in the book dull sorts of things, hence he adopted a most 
agreeable method which did not fail to arouse interest and curios- 



74 IN THE EIGHTIES. 

ity. One day he would be operating a 'Transit Co.,' the next day 
he would be the owner of a 'Meat Market,' selling some one of us 
15 3-8 pounds of sausage at 3 5-16 cents a pound. As we were 
special friends of his, we got 1-3 per cent off; besides, he allowed 
all his patrons 2-3 of 3-4 per cent off for cash. His device worked 
charmingly, for when he had gone through all the ordinary busi- 
ness avocations, he put into operation the 'Creighton Savings 
Bank,' and we had practical lessons in banking. Thus we went 
through the whole year and thought we were having a jolly time 
and not studying a dry old book called 'Arithmetic' 

"The Prefect of Discipline under Father Finnegan was a 
small man with a very high forehead, rosy cheeks, a smiling coun- 
tenance, and a powerful right arm. He taught Catechism to our 
class, and never have I seen a more perfect picture of content- 
ment. He could spin out the story of creation, or paint in graphic 
colors the last judgment with equal facility. Dogma, moral his- 
tory and current events were all equally familiar. Nothing seemed 
to disturb the equanimity of his soul. And yet, calm and severe 
as he was. Father P. Murphy could wield a strap that drove terror 
into the souls of evil-doers. It was on such occasions that I heard 
the story of his strong right arm. The boys used to say that the 
strokes were few, but their quality more than compensated for 
quantity. 

"Among the Scholastics of the early days, was Mr. John 
Bergin, the envy of every boy in the ' yard ; he was a first class 
ball player which would account for his popularity with the sen- 
iors, and he was the best marble player in the yard, a no less great 
accomplishment in the eyes of the small boys. As a matter of 
fact, however, everybody played marbles in those days. In a game 
we used to call 'Boston,' which consisted of a big ring eight or ten 
feet in diameter, Mr. Bergin was a 'dead shot', being able to 
'plump' out a marble five times out of six trials. Among the boys 
John Mullen easily carried off the palm (and the marbles too). I 
hope the younger scions of John's happy family are perpetuating 
the name of Mullen as expert marble players. 

"And Mr. Gartland : — In our day he would have been called 
'The Man with the Wrench,' for most of his recreation time was 
given to gasfitting and steamfitting, with a little carpentering, ma- 
soning, engineering and cabinet-making thrown in. Many a 



IN THE EIGHTIES. 75 

Thursday I enjoyed, decked out in a pair of overalls and carrying- 
a can of white lead, following around at his heels, looking for 
something to tighten up or take apart. He was a born mechanic 
and this qualification stood him in good stead as professor of the 
natural sciences ; for it helped to make his experiments more prac- 
tical and consequently interesting. Though a prey to almost con- 
stant sickness, Mr. Gartland was always cheerful and always 
ready for a good joke; and I really believe that his capacity for 
seeing the funny side of things did much towards 'pulling him 
through' the onerous years of his regency. 

"The middle '8o's remain best impressed upon my mind and 
that too quite naturally, for I was a 'Big Boy' then. The strongest 
and happiest reminiscence of that period is the engaging 
smile and the sunny disposition of dear old Father O'Meara, the 
friend, the special friend of every boy in the College, and the very, 
very special friend of the boy in trouble. Having had the misfor- 
tune of occasionally getting into 'hot water,' I have abundant rea- 
son, as you may surmise, to be grateful to him for many a bit of 
paternal advice. His kindness was proverbial and his long suf- 
fering something marvelous ; and young savages that we were, 
how we did strain both to the limit. 

"And who is that tall, spare form holding up one side of the 
horizontal bar and dramatically telling of Godfrey de Bouillon and 
his brave followers as they scale the walls of Jerusalem? Why, 
it is none other than Art Miles. Art was a walking universal 
history ; he could furnish you with the day and the hour that Noah 
and his sons entered the ark; the number of miles covered by 
Alexander in any one of his excursions ; the names of all the rulers 
of Rome from Augustus to Augustulus, and what every de- 
scendant of Napoleon was doing at the present hour. Like all 
geniuses, he had his eccentricities. Absent-mindedness hardly ex- 
pressed his abstraction, if he had a book of history or biography 
in his hands — it was perfect oblivion of the present. We used to 
indulge in all sorts of antics in order to recall him 'to the enjoy- 
ment of the passing hour,' but all to no avail ; he may have heard, 
but like the departing gladiator, he heeded not. One day as he 
was going up stairs to the class-room, a boy in the crowd asked 
him to throw out a ball that was in one of his desks. In due time 
Art appeared at the window and opening it, threw out — his 



*J^ IN THE EIGHTIES. 

watch, and I suppose put the ball in his pocket. A more generous- 
hearted lad never lived — every one was his friend and his greatest 
happiness was to share with all, everything he had. In fact, he 
was generous to a fault and as might be expected, died penniless ; 
yet, though towards the end of his short life, he felt the effects of 
poverty, I am told that it did not even ruffle the surface of his good 
nature. Unfortunately, for his own good, he had no thought of 
the morrow. 'Sufficient unto the day;' was his favorite saying. 
Good Father O'Meara used to protest against this spirit of care- 
lessness about the future ; but Miles would only laugh and say (of 
course just to tantalize the Father) 'Cui bono, Pater, cui bono?' 
As he was a boy of splendid talents, he could have done brilliant 
work at College had he been so minded ; but ambition was never 
the worm to disturb his peace of soul. As he was always an om- 
nivorous reader and took just a little pride in composition, it goes 
without saying that he could write a very good English paper; 
but in writing, as in all things, he was a diamond in the rough. 
He had a rich imagination, but it was wild ; his character sketches 
were strikingly original, but they were too bold ; and interspersed 
with golden threads of practical wisdom he was too fond of weav- 
ing irrelevant fibres from Ormuz and Ind. 

"It was, I think, in 1884, that Iowa sent her first quota of no- 
ble sons, who from that time on have done yeoman service in keep- 
ing Creighton in the front ranks of Intercollegiate contests. The 
trio of that year was Thomas Russell, Henry Malone and Joseph 
McCarville. 

"The sage of the trio de jure and de facto, was 'Tom' Rus- 
sell. His special claim to that dignity being primarily founded 
on the fact that he had voted the year before. Then, too, he was 
naturally of a retiring disposition and would only come out 
when brought out. Tom was a diligent student, possessed a clear 
mind, and more than his share of talent. After leaving Creigh- 
ton he went to St. Louis and, for a number of years, taught one of 
the commercial classes in the St. Louis University; he then took 
up medicine and at present has a 'Shingle out' not far from the 
scene of his professorial labors. 

"And McCarville : I wonder if age and the Holy Oils have 
toned down his exuberant spirits. 'Joe' was a lively lad who 
could 'raise a time' and step off the 'Rocky Road to Dublin' with 



IN THE EIGHTIES. 'J'J' 

the agility of a professional dancer. What fun we (I could not 
vouch for his neighbors) used to have on recreation days down at 
his 'den' — vulgarly called, his study. The interlocutor on such 
festive occasions, was always the same old bad penny — the genial 
Henry Malone. Dame Rumor has it that time has mellowed him, 
but that he is the same merry-hearted Henry as of yore. Like his 
bosom friend McCarville, he too has 'joined the church' and is at 
present a zealous toiler in the vineyard of the Lord. 

"This famous trio was augmented in '85, by the advent of 
Patrick Burke, a wag, a tease, a friend of good nature, a sport and 
a diligent student, all merged into one and that one of no diminu- 
tive stature either. He had the happy faculty of being able to 
'speak' at any time and on any subject; besides he was quick in 
seeing the weak points in an adversary's argument and hence sel- 
dom came out second best. After this preamble, it goes without 
saying that all prizes awarded for debate were his. After com- 
pleting his course at Creighton, he entered the ranks of Loyola's 
sons and is just completing the rigorous probation required of a 
Jesuit. His long separation from his Alma Mater, however, has 
not cooled his love for her, nor lessened his interest in her wel- 
fare ; for, as he himself says, the happiest days of his life were 
spent within her walls. 

"Among the new students which the year '86 ushered into 
Creighton, the one whom I remember best is Eugene Noon. He 
was a sober, earnest fellow with brilliant talents and a Napoleonic 
ambition. He always seemed to have his eye riveted on the 100 
mark and usually came dangerously close to it. That self-same 
year, though it was his first at College, he competed for four med- 
als and overcame all opposition. His whole college career gave 
promise of a great future; for he possessed not only ability, 
knowledge and that great American quality 'push,' but in addition 
to all these that best of all and distinguishing element of true 
greatness — a high moral standard. Had he lived, he doubtless 
would have reflected great honor upon his Alma Mater; but, 
scarcely had he crossed the threshold of life, when death cut short 
his career. 

"In this galaxy of students brightening the pages of college 
life, during the '8o's, we must also place the name of William T. 
Doran, who subsequently made his mark as Professor of Classics 



78 IN THE EIGHTIES. 

and English Literature in several western colleges. During his 
school days, he was a tall, good-looking, well-bred, athletic lad, 
very popular among his fellows, with more than ordinary enthu- 
siasm and influence. At that time, he showed a decided taste and 
ability for scientific studies, which just then began to attract the 
attention and interest of the more advanced students. The char- 
acteristics developed at school, made 'Will' successful when he 
subsequently entered the Jesuit Order and, in his latter career, he 
made many a conquest for good, in virtue of his quiet yet sincere 
demeanor, his winning smile, his firm character. At this writing, 
he is about to become a priest and his friends augur for him 
power as a public speaker and success as the wielder of a facile 
pen." 

A new chapter must be given to the rest of this story. 



CHAPTER XL 



A FEW STRAY LEAVES ARE ADDED TO THE STORY. 

OWING to the distance from the College of the home of most 
of the students and the almost total want of street-car ac- 
commodations, it was not of obligation to be present at mass every 
morning, as it is now ; however, all were required to be on hand 
for Sunday Mass and instruction. The Boys' 'Choir' furnished 
the music, and right good music it was. An occasional program 
of some big festivity in Omaha shows that some of the artists of 
'ye olden time' are still before the footlights. The names and fig- 
ures of Harry Burkley, Frank and John McCreary, James Swift, 
James Rush, August (now Professor) Borglum, are quite fa- 
miliar to local audiences. 

"The Prefect of Discipline under Father Miles, was a man 
who, if we were to judge solely by appearances, was the very re- 
verse of the Rector, but in reality he was a chip off the same 
block. True, he could put on a most terrible look, and if it came 
to the worst, could apply the birch with no tender hand; but he 
could also be, and usually was, the very essence of charity. Cer- 
tain it is, that outside of 'business hours,' he was always ready for 
fun, and many an evening did he spend telling us of the old days 
in Bardstown and St. Louis ; moreover, these stories usually had a 
moral attached to them, and hence furnished us with good food 
for thought. Though there had been a sodality of the B. V. M. at 
Creighton from the very first year that the College was opened, 
it was Father Peter Leeson who seemed to put new life and vim 
into the organization; he, too, considerably restricted the mem- 
bership and had no hesitation in suspending those who either in 
class or on the campus, gave any just cause for complaint. His 
little talks after the recitation of the Office, were always looked 
forward to with great interest by all the boys — young and old. As 
a rule, they were what we might call 'Marianums' — that is, some 

79) 



8o A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 

miraculous intervention or assistance of the Blessed Virgin was 
told, and a moral drawn. It was a source of infinite wonder to us, 
where he found all the beautiful stories that he related for our 
edification. I am sure that were his sermonettes on Mary pub- 
lished, they would form a most readable and edifying book. The 
hour of meeting was Sunday afternoon at half past two. Now, 
this time was most satisfactory to us, because after the sodality 
meeting, we played ball until about five. In case the weather was 
bad, we took possession of the 'Gym' (the only equipment being 
a pair of boxing-gloves — and later on a shuffle-table) or the game 
room, and I assure you time did not hang heavy on our hands. 
Later on, the hour of meeting was changed to Sunday morning, 
immediately after Mass, and strange to say, it did not suit us. 
And why? Because it cut ofif an hour from our morning game. 
Besides, it made it practically impossible to gather the whole of 
the 'clan' in the afternoon for another game. 

"Base ball, in those days, was the great game; in fact, the 
only game we played was base ball. Of football, as now played, 
we knew nothing. Of course, in cold weather, we played a timid 
girlish game, that was called football, but it was undeserving of 
the name. However, when it was a question of baseball, we pos- 
sessed the real article. There is at present in the museum a silver 
ball won by our nine from all the schools of the city. The trophy 
was 'put up' by a local sporting firm for the amateur champion- 
ship of the city. As we had a splendid team we determined to 
make a fight for it. Having played most of the teams and won 
every game, we fully believed that our ambition was to be satis- 
fied, when, lo ! the High School boys refused to play us. There- 
upon, the firm wished to withdraw their promise, alleging that we 
had not played all our games, and hence could not claim the cham- 
pionship. 'Charley' Creighton, who was our captain (we had no 
such dignitary as a Manager) , appealed to Mr. Gartland. His at- 
tempt to secure the ball for us, was likewise fruitless. Mr. John 
A. Creighton heard of our misfortune and promised to come to 
our assistance. In two days the silver ball was forthcoming, and 
on the third was delivered to our captain. I have often since tried 
to recall the names of that star 'nine,' but all in vain. Of these 
I am' sure : 'Chiller' Creighton, catcher ; 'Dave' Shanahan, 
pitcher ; 'Art' Miles, first base ; John Toner, second base ; 'Will' 



A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 8 1 

Doran, s. s. ; and that is as far as I can go. I am inclined to think 
that John Cotter was the third baseman, but I am not certain. Of 
the fielders I have not the remotest idea. 

"The boys of '82 will remember with amusement a one-legged 
lad by the name of Buckley, who was one of the 'crack' ball tossers 
of the yard. He was an all-around player and could hobble about 
with or without a crutch with more agility than some of his biped 
companions. At the bat, he was still more remarkable and seldom 
had trouble in driving the ball far enough to reach first without 
exertion. Of course, a runner was then substituted and he retired 
in glory. But it was as a story teller that Buckley excelled ; fact 
or fiction, you could have your choice — say but the word and 
Buckley was ready. He needed no stoker and the coal never seem- 
ed to give out. I have often wondered what avocation in life he 
followed ; whatever it may have been, you may be sure that his 
co-laborers have never wanted aid in passing the time. 

"At first thought it may seem strange that twelve years should 
have elapsed before Creighton sent forth her first graduates. The 
causes of this tardiness were many and adequate. In the first 
place, Omaha was little more than a frontier town a quarter of a 
century ago when the College was opened, and hence it could not 
reasonably be expected that boys would have been sufficiently ad- 
vanced upon entering to be fit for graduation before a decade. 
During the first few years the classes were only on a level with a 
present day parochial school. In older cities, where the parish 
schools are well graded, boys leaving from the seventh and 
eighth grades are well fitted to begin their college course, but in 
those times in Omaha, the grading of the lower schools was imper- 
fect and the schools themselves few. Hence, it was necessary 
that the boys be taken in at an early age in the hope that in time 
they would form the nucleus of collegiate classes. Father P. A. 
McGovern, the present Rector of the Omaha Cathedral, entered 
Creighton when eight years old, remaining until he was gradua- 
ted at the age of eighteen. Most of the boys in my class were 
only about nine years of age, and it was at least two years before 
we reached Third Academic, a class whose English branches cor- 
respond with the Ninth Grade in the public school. Then too, 
there was the additional difficulty of holding the boys ; the major- 
ity, after a few years at the three R's were considered sufficiently 



82 A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 

well equipped in knowledge to be able to do almost anything from 
teaching a country school, to editing the art column in the Ante- 
lope County Siftings. It should also be remembered that there 
were few, even comfortably well-off Catholics in Omaha at that 
time — in most cases, after a year or two at school, the boys were 
needed to help in providing for a large family of younger broth- 
ers and sisters. Education too, was a sort of a novelty in a mush- 
room town. Of course it took some time to realize that a real 
college stood on a picturesque spot overlooking the hamlet below, 
for only a few years before, on that self-same spot, had stood the 
tepee of some Big Chief. 

"Another obstacle that had to be contended with and which, 
to some extent, exists today, is that mad race for wealth so strong 
in every Westerner. Many parents consider that the time a boy 
spends at school, once he has learned to read and write, is prac- 
tically lost. They seem to labor under the hallucination that the 
sooner a boy gets out and joins the motley throng bound for the 
El Dorado, the sooner will he come into possession of his right- 
ful patrimony. Nor is this altogether surprising in a country 
where vast fortunes are often amassed in a very few years by il- 
literate men. Finally, a College education is a luxury, and it is 
only after we possess necessaries that we begin to indulge in the 
comforts of life. But hold ! I think I hear you say : 'Bene canis 
f rater, sed extra chorum !' and it is but too true — I am wandering 
sadly. The nearest approach to anything like dramatics during 
my years at Creighton was a dialogue. In fact, it was only during 
my last two years ('85-'87) that anything was made of elocution. 
Before that time elocution had been taught by the secular profes- 
sors, who, though good, earnest men, never seemed to be able to 
do as much with the boys as Scholastics. I remember yet our 
surprise and joy when we learned that Mr. James Flannery was to 
have charge of our elocution class ; this was, I think, in 1885. 
The following year, a new zest was given to elocution by Mr. P. 
J. Mulconry. Being an accomplished speaker himself, and an en- 
thusiast for declamation, he found no difficulty in exciting in our 
youthful breasts a desire to be great orators or accomplished ac- 
tors. 

"About the same time too, was started a 'Scientific Academy' 
by Father Joseph Rigge. It was made up of all the students who 



A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 83 

were studying physics and chemistry. The first year all the lec- 
tures were on chemical subjects. We met about once a month 
and one of the members gave a lecture on some subject akin to 
class matter. Toward the close of the year, a programme was 
made up of the four best lectures given during the year. 

"Another name comes vividly to my mind. It is that of Mr. 
E. A. O'Brien who taught Second Grammar in 1881-1882. He 
was a man who always manifested the highest interest in his class 
and hence, would never tolerate anything like careless work. 
Though a strict disciplinarian, yet withal he was highly esteemed 
by the boys at large and by his class, simply idolized. He never 
spared himself ; no provocation seemed to disturb him ; he could 
praise your diligence or administer stern rebuke with the same 
equanimity of soul. His justice was always as fair as the balance; 
hence, partiality is a word that could never be fitted to a single act 
of his that I can recall. It is true, that sometimes he might have 
been a little more considerate for boyish pranks, but no one ever 
said he was unjust. 

"Even after Mr. O'Brien left Creighton to accept a position 
on the editorial staff of the Omaha Bee, he always showed the 
greatest interest in the college and the college boys. In after 
years I met him frequently, and the burden of his song was al- 
ways the same — 'How are you getting along at school? How is 
so-and-so doing?' And then, like the rest of us, he would become 
a laudator temporis acti and speak of those pleasant days he had 
whilst teaching at Creighton ; invariably ending by hoping that all 
of us college boys would be a credit to the Institution." 

The writer of the above reminiscences underestimated the 
value of his production, and solemnly stipulated that his name was 
not to be mentioned in connection with this contribution to the 
memories of the past. 

Sidelights are thrown upon the narrative by a characteristic 
letter of Father Miles, so highly eulogized by the foregoing con- 
tributor. 

"I left St. Louis for Omaha toward the end of August, 1880, 
with my credentials as first Rector in my pocket. It was only a 
year after the expiration of my term of ofiice that I learned that 
I had been only an accidental Rector — Father Ward was the orig- 
inal appointee, but he managed one way or another, to wriggle 



84 A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 

out of the undertaking, and so I was made the scape-goat. He 
used afterwards to twit me, jocularly of course, with having cut 
him out of the place. On my way to my new post from St. Louis, 
I had as travelling companions, Father Piccirillo, of Woodstock, 
and Mr. Owens, Scholastic. The latter was in poor health, and 
as it would seem sent to Omaha to test the virtue of its air as a 
restorer to health and vigor. If, in the case of Mr. Owens, it did 
not completely build him up, it braced him to the doing of good 
work in the classroom, ruling it over seventy or seventy-five boys 
with a mild but firm sway. I never knew of his having to punish 
— if he did, it was seldom. 

"I found on my arrival Father Shaffel, until then superior. 
Father Peters was Prefect of Discipline ; and a true Knight of the 
Strap was he ; still, he was very popular with the boys. Not one 
kept any grudge against him. He succeeded in winning the good 
will of parents as well. Besides these Fathers, I found three 
Scholastics, Messrs. Bergin, Richer and Wm. Rigge. The high- 
est class was Humanities, presided over by Mr. Bergin. It was 
thin in numbers but made up by the diligence of the members. I 
recall some of these students as belonging to the most respectable 
and prominent families of the city. Other Scholastics, at differ- 
ent times during the three years of my reign, took part in launch- 
ing Creighton on the waves which it has so nobly and gallantly 
ridden. I can recall at present only Messrs. Borgmeyer, Val- 
lazza, and Blackmore. The latter distinguished himself by get- 
ting up the first exhibition. It was very creditable and gave sat- 
isfaction to a crowded audience. The task was one that called for 
great labor and greater patience and perseverance. Some of Ours 
who were present, sometimes remind me of the part I took in this 
same exhibition. I had taken upon myself the training of some 
five or six boys to sing in parts. They were duly brought upon 
the stage. To help them and give them 'some courage, I, with 
violin in hand to strike the chord, directed from my seat in the 
foremost rank of the audience, and so became a marked man, a 
Cynosure. Besides the Scholastics, we employed two or three 
lay teachers. To get good reliable help from outside, was one of 
our greatest difficulties. We had to take what we could get, to 
make the most of the disagreeable circumstances. These men, of 
course, boarded in town, and the conduct of some was not always 



A FEW STRAY LEAVES. 85 

very edifying ; and it being known that they were connected with 
the college in the capacity of teachers, their conduct brought some 
discredit on the Institution in the minds of those who were only 
too glad to see us in trouble. The clergy, not a very numerous 
body, were with one exception kindly affected, to the extent of, 
at least letting us alone. The Right Reverend Bishop (O'Connor) 
was always kind, even to partiality. He was in the habit of pay- 
ing us a visit every week, when at home, staying for supper and, 
smoking a stogy in recreation. The Scholastics especially knew 
that there was a treat in store for them when they saw the good 
Bishop mounting the hill on California street. He was a fascin- 
ating conversationalist, possessing an inexhaustable store of an- 
ecdote and of dry humor. 

"We were not called upon to do any outside work. We con- 
fined ourselves to home duties exclusively, to hearing the confes- 
sions of the boys and preaching turn about to them at their Sun- 
day mass. At this Mass, however, quite a sprinkling of people 
from town always assisted. I cannot help remarking on the great 
change that has been wrought in the course of the last quarter 
century, on the place which Creighton has taken among the col- 
leges as a civilizer." 



The Temple of Science. 




Divinas Palladis sedes. 



CHAPTER XII. 



SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 

THE scientific departments of Creighton University owe their 
existence and their development almost entirely to the mu- 
nificence of John A. Creighton. Although there were other gen- 
erous benefactors, notably John A. McShane, the donations of Mr. 
Creighton were so great and numerous that without them the 
scientific departments would simply not exist. 

It was in the beginning of the sixth year of the College, in 
the fall of 1883, that he was approached upon the matter and sig- 
nified his willingness to furnish a complete physical and chemical 
department on a scale that would at least equal that of any college 
of the same rank. To Father A. A. Lambert was entrusted the 
selection and purchase of the instruments, a task of which he ac- 
quitted himself in a manner that reflects the highest credit upon 
his knowledge and judgment. The apparatus secured by him was 
amply sufficient for the purpose intended, the instruction of stu- 
dents. In the case of the more important instruments, he select- 
ed the best that could be obtained. 

The College catalogue of 1884 enumerates the following 
items embraced in the original donation : 

I. A five-inch telescope, equatorially mounted, and provided 
with a driving clock and six eye-pieces. 2. A chronometer. 3. A 
seven-inch transit theodolite. 

These three instruments formed the nucleus of the observa- 
tory, and are more fully described in its history. 

4. A Maiden triple lantern, with the Chadwick-Steward dis- 
solving system. 5. A Lantern microscope. 6. Polariscope. 7. 
Aphengescope. 8. Kaleidoscope. 9. A full set of slides for the 
above. 10. A large binocular microscope, one of the very best 
in the country. 11. A complete set of electrical apparatus, in- 
cluding the induction coil, which gave a spark of 20 inches, and 

(87) 



88 SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 

which had been used personally by Tyndall ; a full set of batteries, 
Geissler tubes of the most varied designs, and the like. 12. A 
complete physical cabinet, illustrating lectures on any part of 
physics. 13. An entire outfit for chemistry, chemical glassware 
and apparatus, and a full set of chemicals. 14. A complete photo- 
graphic outfit. 15. A new building containing the chemical lab- 
oratory, photographic light and dark rooms, and a workshop. 
16. The best of the most recent works on science, especially chem- 
istry. 17. Many valuable specimens of gold and silver ore. 

In August, 1885, Father Joseph Rigge came to Omaha and 
took charge of the scientific department. He won renown at once 
as a popular lecturer; for he had a wonderful ingenuity in de- 
vising new and bold experiments to illustrate old and seemingly 
well-worn principles, and of adapting his subject matter to the 
capacity of an unprofessional audience. His own lectures on 
sound, music, oxygen and hydrogen, and those of his students on 
the steam engine, the blood and chemical reactions were especially 
fine. 

Father Rigge's thoroughness as a scientist displayed itself 
also in many other and more substantial ways than in popular 
scientific lectures. His predilection was for chemistry, and it was 
in his laboratory and at his hands that the first analysis of the 
vast petroleum springs and lakes of Wyoming was made. An 
able article from his pen on this subject appeared in the Scientiiic 
American Supplement, under the title "The Wyoming Oil Fields." 
The Omaha Daily World, for December 4th, 1886, contained a 
long article written by him on "Omaha as a Coal Point." It was 
illustrated by many drawings and maps, and gave a complete sci- 
entific view of the whole question, together with an analysis of the 
coal recently found in Omaha. He said that coal exists beyond all 
question but he is not convinced that its quantity is great or its 
quality valuable. A similar article appeared later in the American 
Catholic Quarterly Review. 

It was at the earnest invitation of the Board of Public Works 
that he took an active part in investigating the origin of the fire 
which completely wrecked the Boston Store. In an elaborate re- 
port to Major Furay, then a member of the Board of Public Works, 
he points out, after exhaustive experiments with the trolley cur- 
rent in his laboratory, the causes of the extensive corrosion of 



SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 89 

water and gas mains, and concludes by suggesting remedies for 
the evil. The Scientific American gives him due praise for having 
been the first in this line of investigation. His public lecture on 
the same subject, June 19th, 1894, is still remembered. 

It is no wonder, therefore, that Mr. Creighton, with his keen 
insight into character, quickly recognized Father Rigge's ability, 
and followed up his plans with pecuniary encouragement. x\c- 
cordingly, for many years afterwards the College catalogues men- 
tion Mr. Creighton's scientific donations. The first of these in 
time and in importance was the observatory. Amongst the many 
minor gifts we may mention two fifteen-foot gas tanks, two six- 
foot parabolic reflectors, an organ, a vertical attachment to the 
stereopticon, a micrometer eye-piece for the equatorial telescope, 
glass cases for minerals, expensive platinum and graduated glass 
ware for special chemical analysis, a Becker analytic balance, an 
electric master clock and dial, assay and combustion furnaces, an- 
atomical models, a dynamo, a water motor, and a large number of 
smaller instruments, and scientific books. 

Dviring the nine years of his stay in Omaha, Father Joseph 
Rigge raised the scientific reputation of Creighton College to a 
high level. He stocked the physical and chemical departments 
with thoroughly scientific instruments, with which analysis, meas- 
urement and original research could be carried on. During these 
years he always occupied the chair of chemistry, and many an an- 
alysis or assay was carried on in his laboratory. He taught physics 
intermittently only, for four years, but there was no time when his 
influence did not extend to all the scientific departments. Strong 
as was his love of science, his love of the poor, and especially of 
their immortal souls was stronger, and continually urged him on 
to spend himself in their behalf. It was not long after his de- 
parture from Omaha, in 1894, that he went to British Honduras, 
in Central America, and became a missionary among the Maya 
Indians. 

We must not, however, fail to give due credit to the other 
professors of science also. During the year i884-'85, physics was 
taught by Professor P. J. Mulconry and chemistry by Professor 
H. G. Gartland, both of 'whom in later life distinguished them- 
selves in the missionary field. Prof. F. X. Mara taught physics 
intermittently for three years, and Father F. A. Moeller for two 



90 SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 

years. After 1894 chemistry was taught by a new professor every 
year until 1900. In i894-'95 Father C. J. Borgmeyer occupied 
the chair of chemistry, and was succeeded by Professors B, J. 
Otten, W. P. Quinlan, G. A. McGovern, C. F. Crowley and C. F. 
Wolking, all of them being Jesuits, except Dr. C. F. Crowley, now 
professor of chemistry in the Medical Department. Father Borg- 
meyer taught physics also in i894-'95, and in the following year 
Father F. X. Mara once more occupied that chair. In 1896 Father 
William Rigge, the brother of Father Joseph Rigge, came to 
Omaha, and has ever since taught physics and astronomy, adding 
chemistry also since 1900. His tastes were unmistakably first for 
astronomy and then for mathematics and physics. His first care, 
therefore, was to put the observatory instruments into their best 
practical working shape and to introduce the electric current into 
the scientific department, from which it subsequently and grad- 
ually spread into the other parts of the College. He realized many 
pet scientific schemes of his brother, enriched the physical depart- 
ment during times of financial depression with many efficient 
home-made instruments, especially in the electrical line, and as 
much as his time allowed, devoted his best energies to the scien- 
tific development of the observatory. After frequent consultation 
or correspondence with those whose advice or suggestions might 
b^ of value, he planned the new physical and chemical depart- 
ments as they are at present. As the instruments and material 
obtained in former years are of an exceptionally valuable char- 
acter, and as their new and commodious locations possess certain 
features of their own, we shall close this sketch with a short de- 
scription of the present scientific status, excepting the astronomi- 
cal and medical departments, which are spoken of elsewhere. 

The cabinet of physical apparatus, or the museum as it is also 
styled, is 33x54 feet, on the third floor of the new north wing. 
There are eight windows on the east side of the room, the lower 
halves being covered with opaque curtains, while the upper halves 
are protected by delicate curtains which break the sun's light and 
heat and give the whole room an illumination resembling that of 
an art gallery, that is, the light is diffused and from above. The 
entire west wall and half of the north and south walls are lined 
with cases, most of which are already filled with instruments. The 
center of the room is occupied by low cases of minerals and by 



SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 9 1 

physical apparatus too large for the wall cases. There are also 
three handsome cases of minerals between the windows on the east 
side. Arranged along the top of the wall cases are 'J2 electric 
lamps, whose object principally is to serve as resistances for the 
electrical current. 

A notable feature of the room is a small gold-framed tablet 
hanging on the east wall. A closer scrutiny reveals five broad pink 
ribbons upon a background of white and blue, the College colors. 
Gold lettering upon the ribbon tells of the donations to the scien- 
tific department by some of the classes : 

1898 Two elegant covers for the celestial and terrestrial globes. 

1899 An automatic alternating-current arc-light regulator for 
the stereopticon, with rheostat. 

1 901 A "Columbia Grand" graphophone with all accessories. 

1902 A Gurley reconnaissance transit. 

1903 Two Colt automatic arc lamps for the stereopticons. 

While the number and character of the physical instruments 
impress every visitor the collection of minerals although somewhat 
limited at present and confined to eight cases, is very select for 
study, since representative and small specimens are everywhere 
preferred to rare and large ones. The few exceptions rather en- 
hance the effect. 

Immediately north of the cabinet and connected with it by a 
door, is the physical lecture room, which measures 33x26 feet. 
There are five rows of seats arranged in tiers, facing a 12x3 foot 
lecture table. This table contains a water tank 3x3 feet, and 2 feet 
deep for about one-third of its width, whilst the rest is only six 
inches in depth. The front consists of a large plate glass, through 
which the experiments can readily be seen by the audience. The 
other end of the lecture table is fitted up with drawers of various 
sizes. By the mere turn of a valve or a switch, the professor can 
operate water, drain, blast, suction and gas pipes and direct the al- 
ternating currents of electricity of any desirable strength. Con- 
cealed but accessible ducts and flues admit of future extensions 
and additions of pipes and wires. 

Back of the lecture table is a thirty-foot black board, over 
which a screen may be lowered and pictures projected by a ster- 
eopticon. The opaque shutters on the windows may be closed to 



92 SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS. 

darken the room, and the sunHght may be admitted through the 
proper openings by a heHostat and used either for projection upon 
the opposite wall, or for special experiments on the table or in the 
tank. 

The new quarters of the chemical department are on the sec- 
ond floor of the main building. The original glass partitions which 
divided this pace into four class-rooms were used to great ad- 
vantage, only one being removed. This was done in order to form 
a students' laboratory 25x60 feet, supplied with five tables that can 
accommodate sixty students, a fume chamber, and a supply table 
and shelves. Each student has access there to gas, water and 
drain pipes, and exterior and interior shelving. The southeast 
portion, 25x30 feet, is the chemical lecture room, in which the 
seats are arranged in tiers. At present both the chemical and the 
physical lecture rooms are furnished with 60 opera chairs, which 
can at any time be conveniently increased. The chemical lec- 
ture table contains a water tank, like the physical table, but a 
greater number of drawers, and it has also oxygen and hydrogen 
pipes. Back of it is a large blackboard and a fume chamber 9 
feet long, 3 wide and 6 high, with a fire-brick floor and glass sides. 
In order to save space, this chamber extends into the southwest 
room, which is 25x30 feet, and is devoted to the storage of ma- 
terial and to the private work of the professor. This store-room 
contains 15-foot oxygen and hydrogen tanks, a large amount of 
chemicals and apparatus, and a very convenient dark-room for 
photographic uses. 

The very complete stock of physical and chemical instru- 
ments, as well as their commodious and convenient quarters, offer 
to the willing student exceptional facilities for scientific study. 




w 

CO 

w 

< 

> 
w 

o 

H 

o 
^; 

< 

w 

P4 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE OBSERVATORY. 

AMONGST the many fine instruments with which the generos- 
ity of John A. Creighton enriched the Scientific Depart- 
ment of Creighton University in 1884, there was a five-inch tel- 
escope — the present observatory equatorial — made by Steward 
& Co., of London. The telescope had a focal length of 84 inches. 
It was mounted equatorially and provided with a driving clock, 
graduated circles, clamps and slow motion screws on both axes ; 
also one terrestrial, and one diagonal and five astronomical eye- 
pieces, and a helioscope. The polar axis could be adjusted to any 
latitude. The whole instrument was mounted upon a stout brass 
column, and this again upon an elegant oak tripod. It was kept in 
a room specially designed for it in the new chemical laboratory 
building which had been erected during the preceding winter. A 
double door on the outside afforded the only access to this room, 
the inner partition walls being purposely unprovided with doors 
in order to prevent the injurious action of chemical fumes. 

In addition to the large telescope, there were also an ex- 
cellent chronometer made by H. H. Heinrich and numbered by 
him 502, and a theodolite or altazimuth by Steward, which could 
be used for astronomical as well as for surveying purposes. This 
instrument had 7-inch horizontal and vertical circles reading to 
ten seconds, a compass, striding and architect's levels, a diagonal 
eye-piece, and field illumination for night work. The axis was re- 
versible. The field of view contained one horizontal, five vertical 
and two diagonal wires. Mounted on its mahogany tripod the 
instrument weighed 42 pounds. Its place for surveying purposes 
has lately been taken by a new Gurley Reconnaissance Transit 
presented by the class of 1902. The weight of this latter instru- 
men on its tripod is only 1534 pounds. 

At this time, that is in 18S4, no idea of an observatory was 
entertained by the College authorities. The telescope had been 

(93) 



94 THE OBSERVATORY. 

purchased as a physical and not as an astronomical instrument, 
and as such it certainly more than surpassed all expectation. 

Father Joseph Rigge being a thoroughly scientific man, at 
once saw that rolling the large telescope out upon the ground at a 
distance from the tall college building, was not only very injur- 
ious to the instrument itself, but also very prohibitive to the ob- 
server, since valuable time would be wasted every night in prop- 
erly adjusting the mounting, attaching the driving clock and at- 
tending to other necessary preliminaries which are obvious 
necessities to every astronomer. He therefore designed to give 
the telescope a permanent mounting, and to build a house for it 
with a revolving dome or a removable roof. The Rector of the 
College proposed the matter to Hon. John A. Creighton and Hon. 
John A. McShane. The result was that Mr. Creighton agreed to 
build the house and Mr. McShane to furnish the clock, chrono- 
graph and electrical outfit. Plans were then drawn up and in the 
early winter of 1885, there arose on the grounds, 250 feet north of 
the main entrance to the College, a circular brick building, capped 
with a hemispherical sheet-iron dome in which there was a slit or 
opening 18 inches wide extending from the base to the summit. 
A circular rack attached to the inner base of the dome, gearing 
into a cog-wheel furnished with a crank, enabled one to direct the 
opening of the dome to any point of the compass. Inside the 
building, a massive stone pier supported the telescope. The driv- 
ing clock is permanently attached, the axes and divided circles of 
the instrument are properly adjusted, and it is now only the work 
of a few minutes after entering the observatory, to open the slit 
and direct the telescope upon any celestial object. 

On August 18, 1886, the Howard Clock Company of Boston 
was to set up the clock and chronograph. As Father Joseph 
Rigge was not able to return to Omaha until the 27th, Professor 
William Rigge, then stationed in Chicago, was courteously invited 
to superintend this work and to make himself at home in the 
Scientific Departments of the College. 

Having mounted its telescope permanently in the observatory 
and set up its clock and chronograph, the ideas of Creighton Col- 
lege expanded, and it now proposed to give correct time to the 
city. This was manifestly impossible without a sidereal clock and 
a good transit instrument. In order to prepare for this completion 
of the observatory which he saw was only a question of time, 



THE OBSERVATORY. 95 

Prof. William Rigge took a series of observations for the purpose 
of determining the latitude and longitude of the place. The astro- 
nomical theodolite mentioned before was mounted for this purpose 
upon a stout post outside of the observatory. Observations were 
made in the meridian and especially in the prime vertical, and 
yielded a value of the latitude only five seconds or five hundred 
feet in error — an error gratifyingly small when the size, mount- 
ing, condition of the instrument, and the innumerable practical 
difficulties of observation are duly considered. 

Before the expiration of September of the same year 1886, 
Mr. Creighton promised to furnish the transit instrument, pro- 
vided the College put up the building. The building was begun at 
once. It is faced with pressed brick inside as well as outside, 
situated to the east of the round house and connected with it by a 
short passage. A slit or opening extends completely across the 
middle of the building and gives an uninterrupted view of the en- 
tire meridian. 

To Fauth & Co., of Washington, D. C, was given the order 
for a three-inch transit and meridian circle. This circle was to be 
read by micrometer microscopes to the tenth of a second of arc, 
that is, it should be able to determine its own position on the earth 
within ten feet. The eye-piece was to be furnished with right as- 
cension and declination micrometers by means of which the 
position of its threads might be measured to the one hundred- 
thousandth part of an inch. On account of these severe require- 
ments which would make the transit circle of Creighton College 
observatory a thoroughly up-to-date machine and the equal, if not 
superior, to that of any observatory hitherto constructed, the build- 
ers requested not to be hurried in its manufacture. Accordingly, it 
was only in May of the following year, 1887, that the instrument 
arrived in Omaha. Although securely packed and labelled, it was 
handled rather roughly by a local express company. Fortunately 
no serious injury was inflicted, and the instrument is even now 
after the lapse of 16 years in first-class condition. The sidereal 
clock, however, which came at about the same time was treated 
so carelessly by the express agents, that it was permanently ruined 
for accurate use. Suit was brought against the company, and as 
a result they agreed to furnish a new clock for the observatory. 
This clock arrived at the end of the year, and has given perfect 



96 THE OBSERVATORY. 

satisfaction ever since. About this time also, the observatory was 
connected by wire with the Western Union Telegraph Office, and 
received clock signals on its chronograph every day directly from 
the Naval Observatory in Washington. 

The vacation months July and August, 1887, found the as- 
tronomers busily at work in the now completed observatory. 
Much was to be done; all the instrumental constants had to be 
determined, and the position of the observatory had to be ascer- 
tained. A large number of stars was observed for latitude with 
the meridian circle, and also by the method known as Talcott's or 
the American method. The longitude was determined by a special 
exchange of clock signals on the nights of August 5, 6, 7, with the 
Observatory at Washington. For this purpose both observatories 
determined the error and rate of their clocks with the utmost care, 
and at a pre-arranged time first the Washington, and then the 
Omaha clock, sent its own beats across the line and recorded them 
automatically on the chronograph at the other station. The pur- 
pose of this double exchange of signals was to eliminate what is 
called the wave and armature time, that is, the time taken by the 
electric current to run the 1500 miles or more from Omaha 
through Chicago, Pittsburg and Philadelphia to Washington, and 
to energize the various electrical relays used in telegraphic work. 
As Prof. William Rigge was at the end of that same month of 
August to go to Woodstock near Baltimore, Maryland, in order 
to begin his theological studies, and would, therefore, be able to 
pass through Washington on his way and confer personally with 
the observers there, it was thought best that he alone should ob- 
serve at Omaha, in order that what is known as the personal 
equation might be completely eliminated. The resulting differ- 
ence of longitude between Omaha and Washington differed about 
one third of a second from that obtained by the government ob- 
servers of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. This er- 
ror was due mainly to the injured condition of the Creighton si- 
dereal clock. The new clock which arrived later, as has been said 
before, leaves nothing to be desired. 

In May, 1889, a vault was built for the solar and sidereal 
clocks in the angle between the short passage and the equatorial 
and transit rooms. The vault is entirely above ground, and has 
triple brick walls and a triple roof, all properly insulated with air 



THE OBSERVATORY. 97 

Spaces and non-conducting substances. The object in view was to 
insure an even temperature for the clocks and thus to improve 
their already excellent time-keeping qualities. The vault was 
heated electrically by an automatic device which kept the temper- 
ature at any desired point. Even without this heating the vault 
has been so well built that no matter how rapidly or how greatly 
the thermometer may vary on the outside, no change greater than 
two degrees a day has been observed on the inside. 

In the following July and August, 1889, Professors William 
Rigge and John Donoher came from Woodstock, Maryland, to 
spend their vacation at the Creighton Observatory. While the 
latter was busy with the transit circle, the former used the equa- 
torial. By a short triangulation the station of the United States 
Coast and Geodetic Survey in the High School grounds was con- 
nected with the Creighton Observatory. This connection, along 
with the many observations of stars made at the observatory 
itself, furnished what has ever since been given as the official po- 
sition of the observatory. According to this, the center of the 
transit circle is 6 hours 23 minutes 46.96 seconds west of Green- 
wich, and in 41 degrees 16 minutes 5.6 seconds north latitude. 
Later on the height of its axis of revolution was found to be 1129 
feet above sea level. Professors Rigge and Donoher remained 
until after the night of the 3rd of September, when there was an 
eclipse, technically an occultation, of the planet Jupiter by the 
moon. 

In July and August, 1891, the two Rigges were again at the 
observatory. Father William had spent some months at the 
Georgetown College Observatory under Father Hagen, who has 
since acquired celebrity on account of his Atlas of Variable Stars. 
The observation of variable stars was the burden of this vaca- 
tion's work. Though it was mainly designed for teaching pur- 
poses, intermittent technical work can be done and often has been 
done at the Creighton Observatory; and if the University should 
ever use it for regular routine work by a professional observer, 
the latter might begin at once, without any additional instrumental 
equipment. 

The observatory was for one year each under the direction 
of Father Charles J. Borgmeyer and Professor Bernard J. Otten. 
In the meantime, Father William Rigge was Professor of astron- 
omy at the St. Louis University. In 1895 he went to the George- 



98 . THE OBSERVATORY. 

town College Observatory to do professional work under Father 
Hagen and in company with Father Hedrick. This work was 
mainly the photographic observation of the variation of latitude. 
Unfortunately, the examination of the delicate star images in the 
dark room and under the microscope was too severe a strain upon 
his eyes, and he reluctantly relinquished what he had always con- 
sidered his life-work, and confined himself again to the class room. 
In 1896 he came to Omaha and has been here ever since. 

On the 29th of July, 1897, occurred the annular eclipse of the 
sun, which was visible here, as a partial one, and was observed by 
the Rigge Brothers to begin and end within a second of the pre- 
dicted times. Their results were published in the Astronomical 
Journal in its issue of August 24th, 1897, the first appearance of 
the Creighton Observatory in a technical astronomical publication. 

On May 28th, 1900, there was a total eclipse of the sun visi- 
ble in the United States on a line drawn from New Orleans to 
Cape Hatteras. As the preceding total eclipse visible in this 
country had occurred eleven years before and the next following 
one would not occur for eighteen years to come, extraordinary 
interest was taken in this eclipse by the astronomical world. Ex- 
peditions were fitted out by the principal observatories on an 
elaborate scale, and a large number of college professors joined 
these expeditions. Creighton University determined to contribute 
its share toward the scientific observation of the eclipse, and ac- 
cordingly sent its astronomer to Washington, Georgia. As time 
and means were limited, and as the Creighton Observatory instru- 
ments were not designed to be portable, their dismounting, pack- 
ing, shipping and remounting, with the subsequent repetition of 
all this labor, were out of the question. Accordingly, Father 
Rigge had to content himself with the Heinrich chronometer be- 
longing to the observatory and a three-inch telescope kindly 
loaned him by a friend. With this comparatively meager instru- 
mental outfit, he selected a line of work which he judged to be the 
best and most useful that his equipment admitted of, the obser- 
vation of the four contacts, that is, of the moments when the moon 
first began to obscure the solar disk, when the total eclipse began 
and ended, and when the moon finally withdrew from the sun's 
face. The correction and rate of his chronometer he obtained 
from the telegraphic noon signals sent all along the line of totality 
by the Naval Observatory at Washington, D. C, and the latitude 
and longitude of his position he determined by connecting it 
with the eclipse station of the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology in the same town of Washington, Georgia. This In- 



THE OBSERVATORY. 99 

stitute had detailed four of its observers for this purpose with a 
complete instrumental outfit, and they determined their position 
by star observations extending over several weeks. As soon as 
they had published their official report, "The Eclipse Expedition 
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Washington, 
Georgia," in their own organ, the Technology Quarterly, in 
September, 1900, Father Rigge set to work to reduce his own ob- 
servations and compare them with theirs. He embodied his re- 
sults in an article entitled "The Eclipse Expedition of the Creigh- 
ton University to Washington, Georgia," which appeared in the 
same Technology Quarterly in March, 1901. In this technical 
article. Father Rigge explains his method of observing the eclipse 
and of determining his latitude and longitude, and then compares 
his results with those obtained by the astronomers from the In- 
stitute of Technology. The article is very mathematical through- 
out and illustrated by diagrams. "Popular Astronomy "No. 86, 
page 310, calls it "a worthy paper by an interested astronomer." 
Father Rigge's latest technical article appeared in April, 1902, in 
the Astronomische Nachrichten on "A Graphic Method of Pre- 
dicting Occultations with the aid of a Star Chart." It was a con- 
tinuation of a former article written at the Georgetown Observa- 
tory, and published in the same journal. 

The Creighton University Observatory has ever been true to 
its purpose, to serve for the instruction of students and to enable 
its directors to do intermittent work which would be of service to 
astronomical science. While descriptive astronomy is of obliga- 
tion to the students of the senior class, practical astronomy, or the 
actual use of the instruments, together with the mathematical 
computation which this entails, has been left optional. While all 
of the classes have taken very kindly to the equatorial, some have 
also used the transit and meridian circle. And there have been 
special students at different times, principally during the vacation 
months, who have made good use of the observatory. 

Besides the facts mentioned before. Professor Sweezey, in 
1890, obtained the longitude of Crete from that of our observatory 
by a telephonic exchange of clock signals, and in May, 1900, he 
determined the longitude of the observatory of the University of 
Nebraska at Lincoln in a similar way. 

The scientific efficiency of the Creighton University Observ- 
atory was favorably recognized by the Hon. W. E. Chandler on 
April II, 1900, in a speech before the United States Senate, in 
which the honorable Senator described the equipment and work 
of our observatory and gave it rank among 61 of the principal 



lOO 



THE OBSERVATORY. 



observatories of the country. And in 1901 the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution of Washington, D. C, placed the Creighton University 
Observatory upon its official list of the World's Observatories. 

Besides the technical articles which have appeared in the 
Astronomische Nachrichten, the Astronomical Journal and 
Popular Astronomy, many popular ones have been written in the 
observatory and published in the local papers, and every Interest- 
ing and important astronomical event has been duly predicted and 
explained. Thus, there were articles on the total solar eclipse of 
May 28th, 1900, the total lunar eclipses of Jan. 28th, 1888, of Dec. 
1 6th, 1899, ^rid October i6th, 1902, the occultation of Jupiter of 
Sept. 3rd, 1889, and of Saturn July loth, 1900, the transit of Mer- 
cury, Nov. loth, 1894, the expected meteoric shower of Novem- 
ber^ i899,and descriptions of the observatory and its instruments. 
Most of the articles mentioned were illustrated by diagrams or 
photo-engravings. Other popular articles have appeared in the 
St. Michael's Calendar and Ben:^iger's Magazine. The general 
public has often also been invited to astronomical lectures, and a 
large number of visitors have been entertained at the observatory. 

The observatory has now existed for 16 years. Its instru- 
mental equipment is complete for the purpose intended. Its past 
history leads us to hope for much in the future. 

Behold the Heavens' 




Quam sordet mihi terra dum coelum aspicio! 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ST. JOHN S ON THE HILL. 

NEVER before, in the history of the CathoHc Church in Ne- 
braska, were there gathered together so many people as on 
June 26, 1887, on the Creighton College grounds, to witness the 
ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new Collegiate Church 
of St. John. The stirring music of the bands in the procession, the 
waving flags, the acolytes in purple cassocks and white surplices, 
the long line of clergy, followed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor, 
made an imposing scene long to be remembered. 

The Societies met the Bishop at Cuming and 23rd Streets to 
escort him to the College Campus. Arrived there, Hon. John 
Rush, City Treasurer, on behalf of the laity present, read the fol- 
lowing address before his Lordship had time to leave his carriage : 

"Right Reverend Bishop O'Connor — May it please your 
Lordship : 

"As this is the first opportunity in a long time, in which so 
large a number of Catholics in this city and diocese have 
gathered together, I have been deputed to express to you out 
heartfelt pleasure and the satisfaction we feel in meeting you to- 
day on so auspicious an occasion — a Prince of the Church of 
God — surrounded by his loyal, spiritual subjects. We cannot let 
this opportunity pass without publicly expressing our fealty to 
you and to the Church of which you are the visible head in this 
diocese. 

"Although there may be defections in the ranks in other 
places, and although pride may gain the ascendancy over some, 
thus making them teachers of false and dangerous theories, con- 
demned by authority and blindly persisting in their evil course, 
even to the extremity of incurring excommunication, yet we wish 
to assure you that our loyalty and devotion to Mother Church and 

(lOl) 



I02 ST. JOHNS ON THE HILL. 

to you, her visible head in this diocese, remain unshaken, true and 
sincere. 

"We would fain have your Lordship realize that, in spite of 
our frailties, the worry and anxiety of life, and the other too 
numerous hindrances which are the stumbling-blocks in the 
Christian's pathway, we are in heart and in practice Catholics first 
and citizens afterwards. 

"Now as you have, at personal inconvenience, kindly come 
publicly among your spiritual children on an occasion whose im- 
portance induces so many of them to gather together, rest assured 
that it is our earnest prayer that the Almighty Father, the Giver 
of all good things, will grant you long life, health and happiness. 
And, when the time shall have come to you to meet your 
Heavenly Father, at the close of a life devoted to the good of 
others, we trust that we, your faithful and devoted children 
present will have caused you no anxiety, but rather have been a 
consolation and a joy to you. This is the humble prayer of the 
Catholics of the diocese of Omaha." 

The noble sentiments embodied in this address were treasured 
up by the bigots and later on, were made the text for vituperation 
by the A. P. A. The hearty response given to the call of "Three 
Cheers for the Bishop" must have convinced him of the estima- 
tion in which he was held by the Catholics of the diocese. 

Bishop O'Connor replied. He was taken by surprise. He 
thanked the speaker for his address, and said that the greatest of 
harmony had ever existed between himself and his people and he 
was delighted to be in their midst, especially on this account. If 
the same harmony continued to exist, as he was sure it would, it 
would greatly add to the interest of the Church in this western 
state. Again he thanked them most cordially for their feelings 
of loyalty and obedience, which Mr. Rush had just expressed, and 
said that he would do all in his power to continue this same happy 
state. 

A Jesuit Father who was present at the scene, as a young 
man, says : "I remember seeing Bishop O'Connor driving into the 
yard amid the Societies. Either the Bishop was a very warm and 
tender-hearted man or this particular address must have been 
much more significant than I understood at the time ; for I remem- 



ST. JOHN S ON THE HILL. 103 

ber he was greatly affected by it — tears rolled freely down his 
cheeks." 

Attended by his deacons, he joined the Societies and pro- 
ceeded to the site of the new church. Here the Societies opened, 
and through the avenue thus formed, the clergy passed to a large 
wooden cross erected on the spot to be occupied by the altar of the 
Church. Rev. Father Koopmans of H. F. Church, read in English 
the contents of the Latin parchment to be placed in the stone. 
This was the inscription. 

"A. M. D. G. 
"On the 26th day of June, in the year 1887 of the 
Xtian Era, in the iiith year of the Independ- 
ence of these United States, in the 9th 
year of the pontificate of 
Leo XIII, 
The vicar of Christ and the Infallible Head of the 
One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 
James O'Connor, D.D. 
Bishop of the Diocese of Omaha. 
A. M. Anderledy, 
Praepositus General of the Society of Jesus. 
R. J. Meyer, 
Provincial of the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus. 
M. P. Dowling, 
Rector of Creighton College in the city of Omaha. 
In the third year of the Administration of Grover Cleveland, 
President of the United States. 
John M. Thayer, 
Governor of the state of Nebraska. 
William J. Broatch, 
Mayor of the city of Omaha. 
In the presence of the Faculty and the Students of 
Creighton College, of the Catholic Clergy 
of the City, of six Catholic Societies 
and a large Concourse of citizens ; 
Rev. Aloysius A. Lambert, S. J., 
preaching the Sermon on the Occasion, 
Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, Bishop of Omaha, 
with Solemn Rites, according to the Canons 
of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, 
Blessed and Laid in Position this Corner Stone 
Of St. John's Church, attached to the Creighton 
College, to the Greater Glory of God. 



104 ST. JOHNS ON THE HILL. 

O Christ, the author of our salvation ! Adorable ! 
who in union with the Father. and the Holy Ghost art 
from eternity the beginning and the end of all things 
created ! 

Be thou, we beseech Thee, the beginning, progress 
and end of this work. Set the Seal of Salvation on all 
who herein worship Thee, and suffer not the destroying 
angel to have any part in this Thy temple. 

Blessed St. John, to whose honor this Church will 
be dedicated and this stone is laid, obtain for thy people 
the grace of spiritual joy, and direct the minds of all the 
faithful in the way of salvation. 

Holy Father Ignatius, in common with St. John, 
present to God this offering of thy Sons, and let thy 
spirit always remain with them. 

To God be praise forever." 

There was also read a memorial in English, written upon 
parchment, from the various societies participating in the cere- 
mony, which was placed with the other documents in the corner 
stone : 

"Memorial presented by the representatives of the Catholic 
Societies present at the laying of the corner-stone of St. John's 
Collegiate Church of Creighton College, Sunday, June 26, 1887: 

"Desiring to testify our joy at the building of a new Catholic 
Church, which will strengthen and propagate the true faith among 
our families, and which will prove the source of many blessings 
to our children, we have assembled here today. 

"May this sacred edifice always cast its shadows of blessing 
upon us, and when the years have passed by and the time shall 
have come for a grander structure to rise from the earth upon 
which this stands, may our children and their children's children, 
standing reverently around this stone and seeing this time-worn 
parchment, and reading our names upon this scroll, be proud of 
the same faith to which we pledge our lives and hopes today." 

Father Dowling, then holding up the silver trowel with which 
the stone was laid, said that although it was sterling metal it did 
not represent more sterling qualities than those possessed by 
John A. Creighton, to whose liberality and interest in the College 
he took this means of testifying. He then presented Mr. Creigh- 
ton with the trowel. It bore the inscription : "With this trowel 



ST. JOHN'S ON THE HILL. IO5 

the corner stone of St. John's Collegiate Church was laid." On 
the reverse was engraved : "Presented to John A. Creighton by 
the Faculty of the College as a remembrance of the day, June 
26th, 1887." 

Father A. A. Lambert preached to the vast concourse of peo- 
ple. He took for his subject the question of infidelity. He 
pointed out what remarkable efforts it had made to eradicate from 
the heart and mind of humanity all traces of Christianity and tried 
to make nations believe that there was no such thing as Christian- 
ity and God. But mian's nature, truer than a magnet, to the end 
will ever give the lie to the infidel. "Very low had the human race 
fallen before the advent of Christ. Gigantic minds were wrecked 
and fell prostrate before their own vices. The reverend and elo- 
quent speaker then proceeded to show the part the incarnation of 
Christ had filled in the world ; and of this belief there was an ex- 
emplification in the ceremonies of this day. 

The Bishop, who was sick at the time, went home soon after 
the ceremony was finished. The same Father quoted above, with 
charming naivete, tells this incident about himself. 

'T remember a very silly thing I did that afternoon. I went 
to see if I could do anything for the Bishop. I asked him whether 
ne would take some wine or beer or any refreshment. 'No, thank 
you,' he said, 'I want none of these things. I should like to have 
a cup of strong tea.' My mind was. full of the luncheon at the 
time, and I never thought of the cook in the kitchen, and so I said, 
like a goose, 'No, Bishop, we have no tea.' 'Well, never mind,' 
he said, 'I will go home now, if you will call my carriage.' 

"I presume you have not forgotten the attempt made that 
same night to overthrow the corner-stone for the purpose of 
stealing the coins in the copper box. The face of the stone was 
chipped. This was supposed by some to be the work of the A. P. 
A.'s who were just about this time beginning to move in Omaha. 
Fortunately the box had been removed before nightfall, so the 
rascals got nothing for their pains." 

Immediately after the ceremonies, the Faculty, visiting Fath- 
ers, Governor Thayer, Mayor Broatch and some prominent citi- 
zens were invited to a luncheon. As soon as the edibles were dis- 
posed of. President Dowling in a short speech welcomed the Gov- 



io6 ST. John's on the hill. 

ernor of Nebraska, and said that Creighton College felt honored 
by the presence of the representative of a great state. 

His Excellency replied in a neat, forcible and very compli- 
mentary vein. On resuming his seat, he was loudly cheered and 
his health drunk — in coffee. Mayor Broatch, in an unusually 
happy style, spoke about the growth of the city from the time the 
College was first built, and said that, like a good citizen, he was 
proud of such an institution. 

Hon. J. Rush, the next speaker gave a hearty welcome to the 
clergy. He paid a glowing tribute to the self-sacrifice and devo- 
tion of the priests in the state of Nebraska. 

The new Church is of stone and Gothic in structure; the 
part then erected cost $50,000 exclusive of decorations and furni- 
ture. The Church was opened practically free of debt, owing to 
the sale for $35,000 of some land held by the Society of Jesus and 
a donation of $10,000 by John A. Creighton, together with 
money gifts from others. The seating capacity of the edifice 
is about 500. Transepts to the main building will be added in the 
future, when the occasion shall demand. 

The main altar of marble costing $5600.00 was donated by 
John A. McShane; the two side altars, hkewise of marble, each 
costing $2500.00, were the gift of Mrs. John A. Creighton. The 
same lady donated a window, the sanctuary carpet and up- 
holstered chairs, besides other valuable church furniture. The 
artistic stations of the cross were provided by John A. Creighton 
at a cost of $1400.00; the organ costing $2500.00, was presented 
by Mrs. Mary Schenk. The Church windows bear such names 
of donors as Mrs. E. W. Nash, R. C. Cushing, F. C. V. Dellone, 
Mrs. Agnes McShane, P. J. Creedon, John O'Keefe, D. Fitz- 
patrick, M. T. Murphy, Mrs. Catherine Furay, besides members of 
the Creighton family. John F. Coad provided the bell for the 
tower. 

St. John's was dedicated by Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, D. D., 
on Sunday, May 6th, 1888, the feast of St. John before the Latin 
Gate. On that occasion, a beautiful and scholarly sermon was 
preached by the Provincial, V. Rev. R. J. Meyer, who has for a 
number of years past been Assistant to the Father General, resi- 
dent in Rome. 



CHAPTER XV. 



IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 90 S. , • 

REV Thos. Fitzgerald, became Rector March 29th, 1889. 
An Omaha paper of that date, describes him as "a portly, 
affable gentleman, well known as a scholar and an educator. He 
is 41 years of age and was born in Chicago in 1848. His early 
life was spent in that city where he received his primary educa- 
tion. For his collegiate studies he attended St. Louis University, 
finishing a full course with eminent success in 1869. He subse- 
quently taught sciences there for three years until 1878. His 
philosophical and theological studies, which embraced a period of 
seven years, were pursued in Woodstock College, Maryland, the 
renowned house of studies of the Jesuit Order in America. He 
also taught rhetoric at St. Xavier's College Cincinnati, and for 
several years held the presidency of Marquette College of Mil- 
waukee, where he was associated with Rev. Joseph F. Rigge, Rev. 
James D. Foley, and other well known professors, since connected 
with Creighton College. His remarkable success in that sphere 
caused his appointment as Director of the collegiate institute on 
the north side of Chicago, an establishment lately begun in con- 
nection with the parent college of St. Ignatius on the west side. 
Father Fitzgerald is well known as a successful and polished 
speaker, a zealous and fervent missionary in Detroit, Kansas City 
and other towns of the west, notably in Wisconsin, where he was 
selected as synodal orator. In appearance he very much resembles 
his genial and accomplished predecessor. Father Dowling. The 
people of Omaha, will no doubt, have frequent opportunity of ap- 
preciating his scholarship in the discourses which he will deliver in 
St. John's Collegiate Church, adjacent to Creighton College." 

A few days later, another paper stated that "in Father Fitz- 
gerald, the friends of this promising educational institution will 
find a worthy successor to the brilliant and devoted men who have 
preceded him. Among the younger members of his order, none 

(107) 



I08 IN THE BEGINNING OF THE Qo's. 

have done more in the upholding and the maintaining of colleges 
and there are none who are in so many ways equipped for this ar- 
duous work. Endowed with surpassing natural gifts, educated in 
the celebrated institutions of his order and possessed of an exten- 
sive knowledge of human nature, which has been gained in every 
walk of life, he is eminently the man to continue the noble work 
of the college." 

"It will be agreeable to the many friends of Father Shaffel to 
hear that that Reverend gentleman who, as Rector of the College 
or the Holy Family Church, has labored so zealously among them 
for more than ten years, will remain in this city to take care of the 
financial interests of Creighton College as its treasurer, and to hold 
the responsible position of minister in that institution. His occu- 
pation as Vicar-General and other public duties will prevent him 
from continuing as President of the College, since the growing 
importance of the educational curriculum and the care of the num- 
erous classes will require the entire time of the new President." 

After leaving Omaha, Father Fitzgerald was Rector of St, 
Ignatius College, Chicago, and Provincial of the Western Province 
of the Society of Jesus. He represented his Province at a congre- 
gation in Rome in 1899, and at this time (1903) is pastor of the 
Gesu, Milwaukee. During his administration, the College ran a 
successful course ; but already there were rumblings presaging the 
financial storm which burst upon his successors. 

The appreciation given above does but scant justice to the 
merit of Father Fitzgerald. His friends (and he has a host of 
them) know him as a man of kindly, warm and sympathetic na- 
ture, an indefatigable worker, of a retiring disposition, and earn- 
est devotion to duty. The estimate put upon his executive powers 
and force of character, is shown from the positions he has filled. 
His work in Omaha was principally educational; he not merely 
directed, but took a personal part in the teaching of the classes. 

During a considerable part of Father Fitzgerald's presidency, 
Father Kinsella was at Creighton, both as Prefect of Studies and 
professor of philosophy, and gave loyal, active and intelligent 
support to his policy, often initiating important movements for the 
improvements of educational means and methods. Father Kin- 
sella was of a quiet disposition with a tendency towards spiritual 
ministration, in which he was eminently successful. Being a 



IN THE BEGINNING OF THE QO'S. IO9 

scholarly man and a literateur of refined tastes and no mean pow- 
ers as a writer and a lecturer, he could not fail to leave his mark 
on those whom he formed to knowledge and virtue. He was 
much sought as a spiritual director and his advice was highly 
prized. 

It was about this time that the lessons of experience began to 
ripen and the course of studies now in vogue began to assume defi- 
nite shape. A review of the Course and of this particular period 
of our history, is given in Circular of Information No. 3, U. S. 
Bureau of Education, entitled "Higher Education in Nebraska, 
1902." "At the organization of the College two courses were pro- 
vided — a collegiate and an academic — evidently with the expecta- 
tion that the greater part of the work would be in the line of col- 
lege studies. However, the newness of the country, and the spirit 
of the people of the West required most of the work to be of a 
more practical character. Therefore, in 1884, the course was 
shortened to four years, and the following announcement made : 
'Although the College is fully prepared to give a thorough educa- 
tion in the classical course and in higher departments of science, 
yet, as experience has taught the faculty that parents do not leave 
their sons long enough at college to be fully educated in the more 
advanced studies, we have endeavored to accommodate ourselves 
to the present wants of the public, and have selected a course of in- 
struction, which, completed in four years, will fit the student for a 
practical business life, for literary or scientific pursuits. We shall, 
however, hold ourselves ready to advance the standard whenever 
a sufficient number of students fit for still higher studies present 
themselves.' 

"By 1887 it seems that the conditions were such that the 
promise in the last clause could be fulfilled, and a seven years' 
course was then outlined — three years in preparatory work and 
four years in the higher studies. The preparatory years are given 
up mainly to Latin, Greek, mathematics and English. The first 
college class, the 'Class of Humanities,' devotes one hour per day 
each to Latin, Greek, English and mathematics, with the special ob" 
ject in view of training the students in the minor species of com- 
position, as narratives, description, and dialogue. Comparative 
grammar is made a special feature. Versification is begun. The 
'Class of Poetry' continues the same studies, but in such a manner 
as to cultivate in a special manner, taste, sentiment and style, 
which is to be effected chiefly by the study of poetry in its best 
models. In the third year, the 'Class of Rhetoric,' the object is the 
study of oratory, historical composition, and dramatic poetry. The 



no IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 90 S. 

same line of studies, as in the two earlier years, is pursued. The 
'Class of Philosophy' forms the fourth year, and the object of this 
class is to form the mind to habits of correct reasoning, and, as the 
crowning perfection of the whole course of instruction is to impart 
sound principles of mental and moral philosophy; hence ethics, 
logic, metaphysics, and mathematics form the backbone of the 
course. In addition to the above studies some attention is given 
to the study of history and the various sciences. However, both 
the theory and the practice are to let the ancient classics hold the 
first place, as the most efficient instruments of mental discipline. 

"Religious training goes hand in hand with the other studies, 
and part of each day's work is the study of the evidences of relig- 
ion. The idea is seen in the following quotation from the Cata- 
logue of 1 888- 1 889 : 'The College authorities are convinced that 
without religion there can be no education in the true sense of the 
word — that is to say, no complete and harmonious development of 
the intellect and the heart of man. They hold, furthermore, that 
religious truth, like any and every other truth, is as susceptible of 
teaching as the science of language or the theory of numbers. 
Hence, the Catechism of Christian Doctrine is a text-book in every 
class, and lectures on it are given twice a week. In all the classes 
the day's work begins and ends with prayer. Moreover, all are re- 
quired to attend regularly to their religious duties. The Catholic 
religion alone is taught, but non-Catholic students will be welcome 
and their religious opinions will be studiously respected.' The 
school is open only to day pupils. Previous to 1889 there were no 
graduates. This fact should be placed to the credit of the Jesuit 
Order, for they are unwilling to lower their standard for the sake 
of granting diplomas. Unfortunately the same remark will not 
apply to all the other educational institutions. 

"The standard in the classics and mathematics is, it is be- 
lieved, fully equal to that of any school in the state. Latin is studied 
for the entire seven years of the course, and Greek for six of the 
seven years. Mathematics also is pursued during the whole stu- 
dent life. As remarked elsewhere, the work in the sciences is not 
extensive in amount, except in astronomy, where the time given is 
much greater than in most schools and the instruction very prac- 
tical and of a high order. About the usual amount of attention is 
paid to philosophy, logic and ethics. There is, however, a marked 
contrast in one respect with the best universities of the time. The 
course is almost wholly prescribed. Practically, no electives are of- 
fered. The type is that of the Renaissance period, the humanities 
maintaining their supremacy." 



CHAPTER XVI. 



COURSE OF STUDIES. 

AT a time like the present, when there is a great and growing 
diversity of opinion regarding the proper scope of education 
and the relative excellence of opposing systems, when elective 
studies and specializations are permitted and encouraged beyond 
measure, it may be well to indicate the principles underlying the 
course of studies offered to students of Creighton University. It 
seems almost self-evident 

FIRST. That there are some branches of study absolutely 
necessary in any scheme of liberal education. Without a know- 
ledge of these, no man can be called educated. 

SECOND. That for a finished education there is, in each of 
the departments of study, a minimum of knowledge essential for 
a man of culture. 

THIRD. That the knowledge of the end should direct the 
choice of means; that therefore the selection of studies must de- 
pend on the end and aim of education. 

FOURTH. That the aim of a truly liberal education is the 
harmonious development of all the faculties, the careful training 
of mind and heart, and the formation of character, rather than the 
actual imparting of knowledge and the specific equipment for a 
limited sphere of action. 

FIFTH. That all branches of study are not equally service- 
able for this mental and moral development; that some contain 
mind-developing factors and character-building elements which no 
electivism should replace. 

SIXTH. That precepts, models and practice should keep 
pace in every well-ordered system ; that all the branches should be 
directed to some one definite end. Language lessons in ancient 
and modern tongues should proceed pari passu if the studies are 
to be co-ordinated and unity maintained. 

(Ill) 



112 COURSE OF STUDIES. 

SEVENTH. That young students are not the proper judges 
of the studies essential for a systematic and thorough develop- 
ment of their faculties. 

EIGHTH. That selection of studies should be permitted to 
none but those whose minds have already been formed by the 
studies essential to character-building and who have themselves 
practically determined upon their own life-work. 

NINTH. That religion should not be divorced from educa- 
tion ; that morality is impossible without religion and that it is far 
more important than knowledge for the welfare of the individual 
and the safety of society. The commonwealth needs good men, 
more than it needs clever men. 

TENTH. That there is no royal road to knowledge. Plac- 
ing a name on the register of a college does not make a student ; a 
multiplicity of courses which a student is free to ignore does not 
make a scholar. 

ELEVENTH. That the standing or grade of a college var- 
ies directly as the amount of study and acquirements made requis- 
ite for a degree. 

TWELFTH. That the education given by a college should 
be general, not special. In this way it lays the foundation for 
specialties and the independent research appertaining to univer- 
sities. 

THIRTEENTH. That all the studies pursued need not be 
directly useful in after life. 

Guided by these principles, Creighton University, in the Class- 
ical Department, offers a course of studies superior to that of the 
large non-Catholic Universities, though they are more richly en- 
dowed and have a larger clientage to draw upon for higher stud- 
ies. It does not offer many courses or pretend to satisfy every ap- 
plicant by allowing him to select at will from branches sometimes 
incompatible and often of secondary importance, thus leaving con- 
siderable gaps in the knowledge of essential subjects. It maps out 
a curriculum which makes obligatory such branches as, in some 
form, however elementary, are deemed absolutely necessary for a 
liberal education. It does not promise that the youth who takes 
this prescribed course will have a specialist's knowledge of any 
individual branch ; nor does it say that he will be wholly educated 
at the completion of his course ; but it does claim that he will have 



COURSE OF STUDIES. • II3 

a more harmoniously rounded education and will be intimately ac- 
quainted with a greater number of essential branches than by fol- 
lowing a collegiate system based on electives and specialties. The 
course may not suit all comers, it is not intended to meet the wants 
of all, especially of those who regard electives as the one thing nec- 
essary ; but it does afford a good, sound, thorough, practical edu- 
cation to persons who are satisfied with the method and principles 
already enunciated. 

Creighton University does not condemn moderate electivism 
for under-graduates or speciaHzation for particular students. 
There are plenty of Catholic Institutions that very wisely and 
properly meet these demands, in accordance with their chosen 
scope and purpose ; but this institution is designed for those who 
want a good general classical and scientific education. It does 
not pretend to teach every thing, but it does claim to teach thor- 
oughly and successfully the branches it undertakes to teach. Its 
motto is "Non multa sed multum." It believes in "Unum post 
aliud," in thoroughness, concentration, method. 

It will be seen then, that this Institution has a clearly defined 
scope, that its chosen sphere of activity is distinctly marked out. 
By keeping to its own field, it will do more for its clients than 
by undertaking work for which it has neither financial resources, 
facilities, appliances nor demand. Strange though it may seem, 
it is really possible to obtain the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with 
less scholarship, by selecting easy courses in some colleges of 
higher standing in which the elective system prevails, than it is 
under the system which prescribes a definite course and leaves 
little latitude of choice. 

The absence of religious and moral instruction, so prevalent 
in some colleges, is to be deplored, not merely because man is 
thereby left without rudder and compass in some of the most diffi- 
cult and stormy situations when conscience must at all hazards re- 
tain its supremacy ; but because such instruction, even if we do not 
take into account the truth of the tenets it upholds, plays no igno- 
ble part in the development of the mind, the establishment of high 
ideals and the growth of a reverent regard for man. In the Cath- 
olic method great stress is laid on mental and moral philosophy, 
which are considered the crowning glory of undergraduate effort. 
Rational philosophy as a means of developing young manhood is 



114 COURSE OF STUDIES. 

a marvel of strength and effectiveness, a continual wonder to 
those who witness its transforming excellence. But to obtain these 
results philosophy must be such in reality as well as in name. It 
must not content itself with vague groping after light, with teach- 
ing the history of philosophy ; detailing the vagaries of the human 
mind, without venturing to condemn them ; exposing the con- 
tradictory systems which have held sway for a time, without any 
expression of opinion as to the fatal defects which caused them to 
be discarded ; but it must present a logical, unified, complete sys- 
tem of mind culture in accord with the established laws of human 
nature ; it must take its stand on some definite proposition expres- 
sive of truth ; it must rise to the dignity of a science. With such a 
definite system to defend against attack, the mind becomes more 
acute and plastic, the logical powers are strengthened, the value 
of a proof is properly estimated, the vulnerable points of error 
are readily detected and truth comes forth triumphant from every 
conflict of mind with mind. 

We claim credit, then, for the time spent in religious instruc- 
tion, because it is the highest degree of mind- forming and thought- 
developing study ; and it is introduced into every class. It is an ave- 
nue of culture, closed to so-called non-sectarian institutions on ac- 
count of the obstinacy with which our countrymen persist in di- 
vorcing religion from education, thus depriving themselves of one 
of the surest guarantees of the perpetuation of popular govern- 
ment. At least an hour and a half a week are given to the formal 
presentation of religious truth during seven years. Should this 
not count for something with all who do not regard religion as 
merely an amiable weakness, unworthy of strong and virile 
minds? An energizing force which recreated the pagan world, 
should not be classed as a concession to exploded theories, a worn- 
out remnant of effete supersititions, a legacy from the world of 
unrealities. 

Few of our secular readers have any conception of the depth, 
breadth, scope and excellence of the evidences of religion as taught 
in Catholic Colleges. Still less do they understand the meaning of 
Catholic philosophy; what a field it embraces, how thoroughly it 
gets at the root of character and mind development, 

Creighton University, by giving a good classical education, 
prepares its beneficiary to cope with the difficulties of life and com- 



COURSE OF STUDIES. I I 5 

pete successfully in the struggle. This will be seen from a con- 
sideration of the field covered by the curriculum. Besides a thor- 
ough course of religious instruction, and a knowledge of rational 
philosophy, it opens up the treasures of ancient and modern litera- 
ture and languages, and establishes a familiarity with the best 
authors in Latin, Greek and English. It gives a working know- 
ledge of the natural sciences ; of physics and chemistry ; a fair ac- 
quaintance with surveying, astronomy, a systematic training in 
mathematics. It teaches ancient and modern history, the various 
kinds of composition, elocution and oratory ; it cultivates a grace- 
ful delivery, trains youth to debate and discuss live questions,forms 
the taste, enables the student to think, write and speak correctly 
and elegantly. It promotes an acquaintance with sociology, politi- 
cal science and economic laws. It finds place for the rules of har- 
mony, it unfolds the constitution of the United States and the 
principles underlying a popular form of government. All this it 
does for its graduates ; and it bestows proportionate favors upon 
those who fail to complete their course. These certainly are neith- 
er superfluous nor useless accomplishments, even for business 
careers. 

Objection is sometimes made that our course of studies is 
shorter than that of many non-Catholic institutions. But it must 
be borne in mind that some of the foremost educators are mov- 
ing back to our position and agitating for a lessening of the 
time given to undergraduate work. However, Creighton Univer- 
sity has forty weeks during the scholastic year instead of thirty- 
six, besides a larger number of class hours, and we feel confident 
that in few colleges, is there such serious study done. Hence we 
can cover the same ground in a shorter term of years. 

In accordance with the spirit of the times which, in a mad rush 
for original research and discovery, shows no respect for either 
tradition or authority, empiricism seems to be considered quite as 
proper to the educational field, as to the scientific work-shop. The 
treasured wisdom gathered from long and costly experience is 
readily cast aside and nothing appears worth consideration unless 
it be new. Few are content to be mere educators working along 
the safe line of established knowledge ; every elementary teacher, 
no matter how imperfect his mental endowments must be a reform- 
er, an inventor, a discoverer. Hence, flourish those never-ending 



Il6 COURSE OF STUDIES. 

and ever-varying fads, the bane of contemporary teachers. Cath- 
olic Schools have fortunately escaped this infection. When will 
educational leaders learn that it is better to be right than to be 
original ; better to propose something safe than something start- 
ling, better to base a system on sound philosophy even if others 
have done the same before, than to leave the beaten track in search 
of untried and perhaps dangerous novelties ? There are establish- 
ed principles and practices that must always have place in educa- 
tion because they are based on the nature of the human mind and 
the perennial needs of man, because they respond to aspirations 
as deep-seated as human nature itself. Customs and habits and 
men may change, but human nature, never ; and therefore, the es- 
sential landmarks in mind development, must remain immovable. 

When Creighton University first opened its doors, Omaha was 
hardly ready to welcome a classical institution of learning. Pri- 
mary education had not reached such a point of excellence as to 
furnish youths properly prepared for higher studies, but the taste 
and desire for classical attainments, marched ahead of the growth 
in population and in a few years saw an improvement almost 
magical. Tuition in the classical department being free, it was not 
necessary to advertise for students ; they came of their own ac- 
cord, were pleased with what they received and their subsequent 
success made the name of their alma mater known. Many young 
men who pay their own way through life, come from the neigh- 
boring states, board in private families, and attend the College 
classes. These form a noble contingent of earnest, brainy, studi- 
ous, upright, ambitious, self-reliant youths who will yet carve 
their names in the history of the West. All the students apply 
themselves to the classics ; all to the mathematics and the sci- 
ences ; all study the other requisites of a liberal education ; all are 
expected and required to labor with assiduity at the allotted tasks. 

These few pages give an idea of the line along which Creigh- 
ton University has been developed during the twenty-five years of 
its existence; and they enable the thoughtful and discriminating 
to judge whether it has failed to meet the wants of a living age. 
Unwillingness to adopt extreme views with regard to electives, 
specialties, novelties and fads, might more properly be urged as 
a proof that the Science of Education has been studied to some 
purpose. 



COURSE OF STUDIES. II7 

As the grading of the classes is mainly based on the attain- 
ments in Latin and Greek, it happens not infrequently that stu- 
dents coming from other institutions of learning, find themselves 
unqualified for classes for which they possess the requisite train- 
ing in English and in mathematics. To meet the inconvenience to 
which such applicants would be subjected, were the general rule 
applied to them, special classes in both Latin and Greek are 
formed, in which particular attention is paid to the branches in 
which the students are deficient. When sufficiently prepared, 
these special students are introduced into one of the regular 
classes. 

There are instances, however, in which even this system of 
special classes will not answer the peculiar qualifications of indi- 
vidual students. To such as these, the Faculty always takes 
special pleasure in offering private assistance. More especially so, 
when, on account of lack of opportunity in early life, such stu- 
dents find themselves older than the average student before being 
able to take up a classical course. Many such have come to 
Creighton University from neighboring states, encouraged by the 
cordial and helpful spirit which they knew' awaited them ; and af- 
ter acquiring an education, they have admitted that they would 
have hesitated to undertake the task if it had not been for the en- 
couragement and support so generously and freely extended to 
them. 

It is sometimes taken for granted that the smaller colleges 
are small not only in the number of students, but also in the char- 
acter of the education they give. That they furnish an inferior ar- 
ticle; that they fail to do what they claim to do; that a lack of 
means is the main cause of their assumed failure. This view 
confounds education, which is essentially a personal devel- 
opment, with the worship of magnitude and the veneration of the 
colossal. It suggests also that the superiority of the larger insti- 
tutions comes from the possession of unlimited means, larger 
buildings, better professors, more efficient teachers, a larger num- 
ber of students and from teaching a greater number of branches. 
But the fact of their being large, does not necessarily insure a 
better education. The institution may be gigantic like a modern 
department store ; but that does not prove that any one department 
gives a better choice or selection or more satisfaction than the 



Il8 COURSE OF STUDIES. 

smaller establishment, or is superior in any one line to an institu- 
tion which devotes itself to fewer studies. Education "per se" 
does not absolutely require a big institution ; for many master 
minds that have led the thought of the world, never had these 
advantages; and the personal, immediate, and continual contact 
with a sympathetic teacher of fewer attainments, but devoted to 
the work of developing minds and the building up of character, 
will accomplish more than the formal lectures of the most able 
professor who may not possess the gift of imparting knowledge. 
There are some institutions not vitally affected by meagre salaries, 
and the difficulty of retaining talented professors, as, for instance, 
those taught by the members of religious orders who receive 
no salaries. It may be questioned whether the professors in large 
colleges are better teachers or more wrapt up in their work; 
whether they are uniformly more talented and give their time and 
talents with such disinterestedness as to achieve better results. 

The question of money may play an important part when 
there is need of elaborate scientific equipment; but all education 
does not begin and end in the laboratory; much of it is not con- 
cerned with the laboratory at all. Why should any note of 
inferiority attach to small colleges in matters purely intel- 
lectual such as literature, classics, history, mathematics, philosophy 
and other branches which need no apparatus and require only a 
sound mind in a sound body, a fair amount of talent, due applica- 
tion and a heart for the work ? A college which professes to give 
a general education such as will fit its recipient for taking up pro- 
fessional or technical studies, is not to be judged by the same 
standard as universities which aim at specialization, private re- 
search and original investigation. It does not need the same ex- 
tensive equipment for the particular work it maps out for itself; 
it may be mistaken in judging specialties to be out of place for 
those who have not yet completed an elementary education, but 
it deceives no one, if it does what it undertakes to do. 

On account of the important place that many of the so-called 
large universities fill in the public eye, we are liable to forget that 
many of them are merely private institutions. Just like most of 
the small colleges which come in for severe criticism, Chicago 
University, Stanford University and a score of others, are entitled 
to no more rights and privileges, than the smallest parochial school 



COURSE OF STUDIES. IIQ 

in the most remote district of our Commonwealth. It is only by 
sufferance that large private institutions are allowed to have so 
great a voice in the shaping of legislation affecting education, and 
in furthering interests which are sometimes at variance with those 
of the common people, to whom freedom of education is dearer 
than the prestige of any university. 

Those who are accustomed to measure progress and knowl- 
edge by "courses" and "units" and "hours" are inclined to regard 
our system somewhat disdainfully. It must, indeed, be admitted 
that we do not always "put the best foot forward," that we fail to 
put down in our catalogue eulogistic descriptions of courses, "more 
honored in the breach than the observance." These people do not 
understand the names we give to our classes, and they will not 
take the trouble to find out what we teach. Because they see no 
electives on the list, they conclude that we teach nothing but 
translation; and they let it go at that. So we are often con- 
strained to cry out "Barbarus hie ego sum, quia non intelligor 
illis." What the relative merits and advantages of both systems 
may be and how things really stand, can be seen in two pamphlets 
by Rev. T. Brosnahan, dealing with Boston College versus Har- 
vard. Father Thomas Campbell, in an address at Fordham Col- 
lege, has pointed out the real reasons why Catholics gravitate to- 
ward non-Catholic Colleges, and they have to do with the social 
advantages rather than scholarship. Incidentally, he expresses 
the true idea of the Catholic school and tells why it exists and in 
what respect it is superior. 



Formation of Character. 




Moribus ingenuis formatur flexilis aetas. 




w 
o 

w 

o 
u 

< 

CJ 

Q 
W 

O 
H 

o 
w 

U 



CHAPTER XVII. 



RAISING THE STANDARD. 



THE Rectorship of Father James F. Hoeffer, beginning July 
15th, 1 89 1, was remarkable for three things : the establish- 
met of the John A. Creighton Medical College in the building for- 
merly occupied by St. Joseph's Hospital, and two visitations of 
Providence ; for such in reality were the extraordinary stringency 
in money matters then beginning, and the A. P. A. outburst of 
bigotry. 

The story of financial reverses is told in another chapter. 
The failure of Nebraska crops, the depreciation of property in 
Omaha, the loss of fortune by some of the best and most liberal 
citizens were enough to cause gloom ; but when the A. P. A. 
movement was added to the cup of bitterness, no wonder that 
hearts sank and a great depression of spirit ensued among the 
Catholics of Omaha. Numbers of them left the city in disgust ; 
Church attendance diminished, every religious enterprise was at 
a stand-still. All these things can be described, but not the sor- 
rows of Fathers Hoeffer and Pahls and those of Father John 
Mathery, the Treasurer of the College during the most disastrous 
period. The latter tells how "People whose credit was the best, 
were unable to meet the interest due to the College and loans were 
recommended to us which should have never been made. How- 
ever, as our friends acted in good faith, no blame can be attached 
to them. The exaggerated value of property that remained in the 
minds of some until 1893, was the cause of this. Subsequent 
events showed how we were mistaken in putting implicit confi- 
dence in men who did not realize the probable extent and duration 
of the financial crisis. I say this not to impute blame to anyone, 
but rather as an extenuating circumstance for those interested. 
It was this that embittered my life very much at Creighton Col- 
lege and I must say that my hardest years as far as responsibility 

(121) 



122 RAISING THE STANDARD. 

went, were those spent at Creighton. I had to visit many of our 
debtors ten or twelve times in person before instituting legal pro- 
ceedings. In fact, it took all the priest out of me when I had to 
meet the wife and children of men who could not pay us a cent 
and who naturally looked upon me as an evictor. Apart from the 
financial sorrows, I consider Omaha one of the finest places of the 
Province to live in. A professor, it seems to me, cannot have a 
happier place. The boys are respectful and docile ; the house con- 
venient and cheerful ; the climate the best in the Province." 

Fortunately there were some mitigating circumstances to 
make up for all this affliction of soul and desolation of spirit 
among the righteous. They are detailed by Father John B. De 
Shryver, then Vice President and Prefect of Studies and always 
one of the truest and most steadfast friends Creighton ever had. 

"I was jat Creighton University from Jan. lo, 1888, to 
August 10, 1891, teaching Second Academic and excurrens on 
Sundays; and again from August, 1892, to September, 1898, 
acting as Vice President ; in all, nearly ten years. 

"In the summer of 1891, Father James Hoeffer discontinued 
the preparatory classes, which in the opinion of many had been, 
all along, a drag on the College — and if success in intercollegi- 
ate contests, which up to that time had been nihil, is any indica- 
tion of college standing, then it may be assumed that the abolish- 
ing of preparatory classes, and of their concomitant, the strap, has 
been progress in the right direction. From that time, the gov- 
ernment of the College became more paternal, students were led 
more by reason in the discharge of their duty. In less than two 
years after this favorable change, the boys had taken their stand 
at the front in all intercollegiate contests, and have kept it ever 
since. 

'Tn October, 1892, on the occasion of the Columbus Celebra- 
tion, there took place at the Millard Hotel the greatest Alumni 
Banquet ever given in Omaha. In the Church, there was a tri- 
duum of prayers and public services. On Sunday, Fr. Hoeffer 
preached a sermon of uncommon merit. It had been announced 
that the exercises of the triduum would be concluded on Tuesday 
morning, the day of the parade, by Solemn High Mass at 9 o'clock 
and a literary entertainment in the College Hall, immediately after 
Mass. One particular feature of the commemoration was the pre- 



RAISING THE STANDARD. I 2$ 

sentation of two new silk flags. This event gave occasion to a 
celebration, which, to my great pleasure, has become the rule ; I 
mean the Memorial Exercises on Nov. 5th. Up to Oct. 1892, 
the death of the Founder had been yearly commemorated by a 
Solemn High Mass of Requiem. When, on the occasion of the 
Columbus Celebration I saw how readily the people who attended 
the Mass, came up to the Hall, I asked the Rev. Rector permission 
to issue for the following Nov. 5th an invitation card which 
would invite the patrons of the College, both to the Mass of 
Requiem and to the Memorial Exercises, including the reading 
of notes in the Hall. The cards were printed and sent out, with 
the gratifying result that more people than usual attended the 
religious services, and that a distinguished audience was present 
to show its appreciation of the literary program and witness the 
distribution of class testimonials. Such was the origin of the Me- 
morial Exercises which the Class of Philosophy has taken up, as a 
labor of love, for the past eleven years. You must reflect upon the 
contrast between the condition of Creighton, when its defenders 
had to struggle under the sneers and taunts of those from whom 
they had a right to expect sympathy, and the actual standing the 
institution has taken amongst her Sister-Colleges, to realize how 
comforting it is to them to hear from her and how much they feel 
interested in anything that concerns her well-being. This is the 
working of the same great law which operates, as ascetic writers 
tell us, in the Kingdom of God. Our joy is measured out accord- 
ing to our sorrow. 

"The following facts stand out before me when I go over 
the years of my residence at Omaha. In the Fall of 1888 the 
College entered upon a Classical Course. Greek was introduced ; 
then came the days of Preparatory Classes. One Hundred pre- 
paratory boys absorbed daily four of a hard-working President's 
busy hours. Then came the University President. He gave the 
College a strong push to the front, when he gave the preparatory 
boys a push down the California Street hill. By long and perse- 
vering labor in English composition, P. E. McKillip laid low the 
barriers which for ten long years had shut out the College from 
the Intercollegiate Contests. He took the $25.00 prize in 1893 ; 
the $75.00 prize in 1894. At last, in 1897, Peter Gannon won the 
prize we so longed for, the Latin Medal. In 1898, John Smith 



124 RAISING THE STANDARD. 

took the $75.00 prize. This flattering score has been kept up by 
my friends John Bennewitz and Edward Leary." 

This is perhaps, the best place to call attention to the dia- 
grams in this book. In working them out, Father Wm. F. Rigge 
came upon some unaccountable fluctuations which we have tried 
to make out. Dividing up the students according to the names 
of classes, without regard to the varying studies pursued by the 
same class at different periods, it appears that there were 59 
students in the Third Academic at the end of the School Year 
1888-1889. This number increased to 88 in 1890; to 89 in 1891 ; 
fell again to 65 in 1892 and finally dropped to 30 in 1893. These 
are abnormal fluctuations. From the explanation to follow, it 
seems that Third Academic B. was really a preparatory class in 
all but name, during a part of its existence. This contribution to 
statistics is from the same pen. 

"Previous to Father Hoeffer's Rectorship, the students in the 
preparatory classes very nearly equalled in number, those in the 
Academic and Collegiate departments combined. When, in 
July, 1891, he became Rector, he received a communication (in 
writing) from all the Pastors of Omaha, secular and religious, 
protesting against the conducting of preparatory courses at the 
College, on the ground that they wished to keep the boys at their 
parochial schools until after their First Communion. 

"Whilst pondering over this protest, Father Hoeffer chanced 
to examine our charter, and he soon satisfied himself that accord- 
ing to that instrument the funds were to be used for a college 
education, and to use them for any other purpose, was not per- 
missible. So, it was immediately announced that the preparatory 
courses would not be resumed at the opening of classes in 1891. 
But then the question arose, what shall we do with the 100 and 
more boys that have been in the preparatory classes for the past 
two, three or four years ? Many of them are not yet fit for Third 
Academic. To return all these to the parochial schools was not 
to be considered. In the hurry of the moment the 40 best were 
assigned to Third Academic, and the rest were all dumped into 
another division, which, for want of a better name, came to be 
called Third Academic B. Thus, thoughtlessly, no doubt, a fea- 
ture, condemned by the course of studies, was introduced. This 
sufficiently accounts, I think, for the first point (89) in Third Aca- 



RAISING THE STANDARD, 12$ 

demic). At the opening of 1892, all the boys who were in Third 
Academic A the previous year, plus about eight of the best of 
Third Academic B, were promoted to Second Academic. The re- 
mainder of Third Academic B holding over from 1891, with a few 
newcomers, formed the 65 in Third Academic in 1892, separated 
into two divisions, but both now of the same grade. 

"At the opening of 1893, there were no students to come from 
preparatory as that institution had been abolished ; and there were 
no fit candidates to be obtained from the parochial schools. It 
looked as if we were not going to have a Third Academic at all 
that year. But taking, as a nucleus, a few who had failed, and 
adding some from the public schools, together with a few others 
from the interior of Iowa and Nebraska, I succeeded in mustering 
30. Now there lies the mystery, and such, I admit, it must ap- 
pear. See here the explanation. 

"At the time Father Hoeffer abolished the preparatory 
course, he also raised the standard of requirements. The pastors 
were informed of both changes. They were gratified over the 
first, but objected to the second change. The raising of the stand- 
ard of requirements for admission necessitated on the part of the 
parochial schools, the addition of one grade to their course for 
the boys. For two years, from 1891 to 1893, the pastors made no 
change in their course — some Catholic boys were obliged to go to 
the public schools for the knowledge they could not obtain at the 
parochial schools. The pastors thought that, for want of candi- 
dates, Creighton would soon give in on the requirement question, 
and relieve _them from the additional expense of hiring an extra 
teacher for the 6th grade boys. Father Hoeffer stood firm. 
When, at the opening of 1893, the parochial boys came to the ex- 
amination for admission, they were all rejected because they 
failed to do, in particular, the examples in decimal fractions. 
There was no little dissatisfaction, when all the prospective candi- 
dates for College were rejected ; still those concerned set to work 
in earnest to comply with the new condition of things, so that in 
the Fall of 1894, enough suitable applicants presented them- 
selves to necessitate two divisions of Third Academic. For 1894- 
95 you will find, if I remember rightly, the number of Third Aca- 
demic students about the same. In 1896 came some more trouble — 
the financial pinch. The Provincial could not provide two teachers 



126 RAISING THE STANDARD. 

for Third Academic, and Father Pahls could no longer afford to 
pay the salary of the secular instructor hitherto employed to teach 
one of the divisions of Third Academic and penmanship. The 
upshot was, that I received orders to have, henceforth, only one 
Third Academic of about 40 boys. To meet this limitation with 
satisfaction to all applicants, I announced in the catalogue, and by 
special circulars, that the examination for admission would hence- 
forth be competitive and would take place on Thursday, two 
days after the regular students had come in, so as to give a chance 
to the applicants from the interior of the State to be present. This 
method of admission was in vogue the last two years of my Vice- 
Presidency, and though it caused a slight falling off in numbers, 
I think, that in the end, it benefited the class standing ; for what 
was lost in quantity was, by this competitive system, gained in 
quality. From all this you can see that roses were not plentifully 
strewn upon the Vice-President's desk in those days." 

Though the College was not founded for the purpose of im- 
parting a distinctly ecclesiastical training, but rather a liberal edu- 
cation, such as will fit a student entering upon a business or pro- 
fessional career, its classes are open to all whom it can benefit. It 
is not surprising, then, that a Preparatory Seminary was thought 
of. Its scope and its relationship with Creighton College, are out- 
lined in an extract taken from a circular sent to his clergy, by the 
Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor in September, 1886. 

"The time has now come when we should prepare to establish 
a preparatory seminary of our own, where the youth of the diocese 
who feel called to the ministry, may be able to prepare for it. A 
large and growing Church like ours, should not be left longer to 
depend for its supply of priests on chance volunteers from the 
Eastern States and from Europe. We shall soon have enough 
desirable candidates for the ministry, in our numerous colonies, 
and they should be enabled to follow their vocation without going 
to a great distance from home. A preparatory seminary can be 
established at Omaha under the most advantageous circumstances. 
The only expense it will involve will be the purchase of the 
necessary ground, and the erection of the buildings, which, at first, 
need not be costly. The students will be required to pay their 
board, and by locating the Seminary in the neighborhood of the 
Creighton University, they can enjoy the exceptional advantages 



RAISING THE STANDARD. 12/ 

of that Institution, free of charge, thus saving the diocese the 
salaries of a separate corps of professors. Such a seminary- 
would attract students from neighboring dioceses, would 
give us a sufficient and regular supply of priests, and give them 
for the six or seven different nationalities now colonized in Ne- 
braska, a thing very difficult, if not impossible to be done in any 
other way. The least that can be expected from Catholic parents, 
is that they will allow their sons the advantages of a thoroughly 
Christian education, such as can be had free at Creighton Col- 
lege." 

For ten years no attempt was made to carry out the design 
of Bishop O'Connor. But in August, 1896, Bishop Scannell is- 
sued a circular on the subject, announcing the opening of the 
Seminary. 

"On the first Monday of next month, I shall open in Omaha 
a Seminary for the reception of students who desire to prepare 
themselves for the priesthood. Applications will not be restricted 
to students living within the limits of the diocese of Omaha. The 
building which will be used for the present as a Seminary, is one 
square distant from Creighton University. The Seminarians will 
attend the classes at Creighton University. They must, there- 
fore, be qualified to enter the Third Academic Class of that Insti- 
tution. 

"The following are the conditions required for admission to 
the Seminary : 

1st. The student must have an intention of studying for the 
priesthood. 

2nd. He must present the recommendation of his Pastor, 
testifying to his good conduct, piety and general fitness requisite 
for a good Seminarian. 

3rd. He must know : ( i ) how to spell words used in ordi- 
nary polite conversation; (2) the parts of speech in Grammar; 
and (3) common and decimal fractions in Arithmetic. 

"The German and French languages form a part of the cur- 
riculum in Creighton University. Seminarians of Polish or Bo- 
hemian nationality will receive instruction in their respective lan- 
guages. Plain chant will be taught gratis in the Seminary. Spec- 
ial terms can be made for those who may wish special instruction 
in Music. * * * 



128 RAISING THE STANDARD. 

"Priests of the Diocese of Omaha are requested to read this 
circular to their people and to explain its purport at the same 

Richard Scannell, 

Bishop of Omaha." 

The Preparatory Seminary was opened, but for some reasons 
not clear to the writer, the project did not prove to be a success 
and after a year or two the work was discontinued by Bishop 
Scannell. 

As the name of the last named prelate will often occur in 
these pages, a brief sketch of him will not be out of place. 

Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell was born in Ireland in 1845 ^^^d 
was educated in the Middleton and All Hallows Colleges, two 
famous institutions of that country. He was ordained in 1871, 
came to this country the following year and began his labors at 
Nashville, Tennessee. The first post he occupied was that of As- 
sistant Pastor of the Nashville Cathedral. After a few years' ser- 
vice, he was placed in charge of a new church in East Nashville. 
In this position, his zeal and executive ability had full play and 
soon resulted in his promotion to the office of vicar-general of the 
diocese by Bishop F'eehan. When the latter was elevated to the 
Archiepiscopal See of Chicago, in 1880, the administration of the 
affairs of the Diocese devolved upon Father Scannell. This duty 
he performed successfully for three years, being relieved by the 
appointment of Bishop Rademacher. Father Scannell was then 
transferred to West Nashville where he built St. Joseph's Church, 
a magnificent structure, also several schools, and organized a 
flourishing congregation. The marked success attending his labors 
in the various positions to which he had been assigned, attracted 
the attention of his ecclesiastical superiors, and he was advanced 
to higher fields of usefulness. On November 30th, 1887, he was 
notified of his selection as Bishop of Concordia, Kansas, and on 
the 9th of the following month he was consecrated and assumed 
the duties of the position. There he continued to labor until ap- 
pointed Bishop of Omaha, March 21st, 1891. On the 12th of the 
following month he was installed in St. Philomena's Cathedral. 

His administration has shown substantial results. His flock 
is steadily growing, as well as those charged with their spiritual 
care. At the close of 1901, there were 120 priests in the diocese; 



RAISING THE STANDARD. 1 29 

16 religious orders with 431 members; 23 ecclesiastical students; 
90 parishes, 154 churches, 65 missions, 20 chapels, 3 hospitals, 
one orphan asylum, 2 colleges, 6 academies, and 41 parochial 
schools, with 5120 children. The number of families in the Dio- 
cese was 10,574, and the Catholic population was placed at 65,175 
by the Census of 1900. 

As an orator. Bishop Scannell affects none of the arts of elo- 
cution, or those flights of fancy which charm the hearer for the 
moment. His style is conversational. But what his addresses 
lack in the flourish of delivery, is more than balanced by logical 
reasoning, a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter and broad 
liberaHty and charity. 



Serene Amidst the Flood. 




Tangor, non tingor, ab unda. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



A. P. A. FANATICISM. 

IN the last decade of the 19th century, the A. P. A. movement 
raged with special violence in Omaha. It is probable that 
the organization originally intended to help its members to politi- 
cal preferment, and mainly made use of the prevailing Anti- 
Catholic prejudice to gain its end. Perhaps, also, the questionable 
methods and conduct of certain politicians, who were no credit 
to the Catholicity they professed, gave vitality to the movement, 
which reached its climax in 1895. 

Strangely enough, the A. P. A. was largely in the hands of 
Scandinavians who could hardly speak or write the English lan- 
guage, whose citizenship was of yesterday, and of Orangemen 
who had crossed the borders of Canada to the United States with- 
in the preceding decade. They were a despicable crowd, treacher- 
ous, dishonest, venal and cheap. A public official boasted that he 
was elected by their votes, but that he had bought them at 
the low price of $1500.00; and even he contemned them. Not a 
few of their leaders finished in the penitentiary because they stole 
public moneys. Some of the best American blood was enlisted 
fearlessly on the side of the Catholics. Extracts from a letter of 
one of these defenders, will show their manly courage. 
To the Editor of the BEE : 

"I propose for one, as a Protestant, the son of a Protestant 
minister, married to the daughter of a Protestant minister, and a 
member of a Protestant denomination, to enter publicly my pro- 
test against the reckless, relentless and unreasonable warfare 
which is now being waged in Omaha against my Catholic fellow- 
citizens. No Catholic has appealed to me for sympathy or sug- 
gested that I should say a word in his behalf ; in fact outside of 
my own family, no one has a hint of my purpose to antagonize 
the sentiment which I regret to see so prevalent in this com- 
munity. I am simply moved by my American sense of fair-play 

(13O 



132 A. P. A. FANATICISM. 

to revolt against what appears to me to be unwarranted persecu- 
tion of a respectable, law-abiding and numerous body of our 
citizens. 

"Nothing is quite so unreasonable, so bigoted, so virulent 
and so dangerous as religious hatred. No cruelties have ever 
exceeded those perpetrated in the name of religion. Nothing is 
more un-American, than political partisanship, based upon re- 
ligious differences. No antagonism in a community can so com- 
pletely estrange neighbors, and overturn good order as that which 
arises from contention over Church relations. It is, therefore, 
always a source of regret to fairminded Americans who do not 
mix their denominational predilections with their political prefer- 
ences, to find a religious or a semi-religious issue at stake in elec- 
tions. 

"In Omaha, the Anti-Catholic society has so grown in num- 
bers, that it is in control of the city. Among its members are many 
persons entitled to confidence and respect, although they have 
joined an un-American, secret, political organization. But there 
are members and leaders in that order and kindred societies who 
are there for one or both of two reasons. Either they are fanat- 
ical Anti-Catholics, or they hope for political advantages from 
their membership. It is unfortunately this class which makes 
the most noise and gives trend to the public utterances and pri- 
vate persecutions of the organization. 

"They and their sympathizers, among whom I am' sorry to 
see some clergymen of the Protestant Churches, have created a 
sentiment against Catholics in Omaha, which not only causes 
worthy people in that denomination personal pain, but affects 
their business, injures their reputations in the community and 
shuts off avenues of employment and advancement from their 
children, to which, as American citizens, they are entitled. 

"This is unfair. Omaha has never suffered any evil from 
Catholics. Her best citizens are members of that Church. Her 
largest tax-payers are adherents of that faith. There has never 
been any attempt, or suggestion of an attempt on the part of that 
Church, or any of its members, to control the schools, the city 
government, or the county affairs. Whatever m'ay be true of 
other localities, as far as Omaha is concerned, Catholicism has 
never been a force in politics which attempted to antagonize any 



A. P, A. FANATICISM. 1 33 

public improvement, the public schools or any well-defined public 
policy. There is in my mind no more reason for an Anti-Catholic 
Society in Omaha, than for an Anti-Methodist or Anti-Infidel 
Society. There can never, in America, be any excuse for a se- 
cret, political, religious organization, and in this city there is less 
excuse, if possible, than anywhere else. 

"I protest most solemnly against this un-American idea of 
asking whether a man believes in con-substantiation, or trans- 
substantiation before determining to vote for or against him as a 
candidate for public office. Not the religious belief or the nativ- 
ity of the candidate's parents, but the merits of himself should be 
the test for fitness or unfitness for public trust. 

"I hope that the people of Omaha will see that this antag- 
onism has already gone too far, and that the time has come to 
frown upon those fanatics who would fan smouldering em'bers of 
religious hatred into flames of discord. It is high time that the 
tide were turned. If the ill-will, which has been stirred up be- 
tween two classes of our citizens is permitted to grow in in- 
tensity, it will be years before the good feeling of former times 
can be restored. We should be manly enough, every one of us, 
to accord to all our neighbors, liberty of conscience, honesty of 
purpose and personal patriotism and treat with them as friends 
and not as enemies of the Commonwealth." 

The A. P. A. organ, "The American," attacked the Jesuits 
fiercely and persistently ; but the dailies of the city for a time held 
aloof and tried their best to keep the religious issue out of their 
columns, seldom admitting the existence of a religious war. 
About 1895, however, the Omaha Bee came out flat-footed 
against the bigots and for an entire year offered uncompromising 
opposition to the party of proscription. They were held up to 
the public scorn as narrow-minded, bigoted, un-American, in- 
tolerant, dishonest, inimical to the welfare of state and city; 
enemies of free institutions — in a word, the mirror was held up 
to nature and they were enabled to see themselves as they were. 
For the benefit of the future historian, the material furnished on 
this subject by the files of that paper, is now being collected, type- 
v/ritten and bound for the consulting department of the Creighton 
University Library. A rumor somehow found its way into the 
lodge rooms that the Catholics were drilling nightly at Creighton 



134 A. p. A. FANATICISM. 

College — to take part in the universal massacre of Protestants, 
said to have been ordered by Pope Leo XIII. Two emissaries 
from one of the lodges lay on their faces in the grass, one or two 
nights, watching the College, but had to report "Nothing doing" 
in the line of drilling. All Saints' Day, 1895, fell on a week-day, 
and in consequence, the attendants at Mass were almost ex- 
clusively women. This led to another scare for the A. P. A. 
They thought that as it was just before election, the priests at St. 
John's were instructing the women how to get votes. Again, a 
brace of visitors from some lodge or other came to St. John's on 
two successive Sunday evenings, to hear as they supposed, a 
political harangue, and learn what the priests were advising the 
Catholics to do. To their amazement they heard the officiating 
clergyman (a different one each evening), preface the sermon by 
an appeal to the Catholics present to keep the peace. 

One of them, when he understood from the whole tone of 
the lectures, which dealt so kindly with our erring brethren, how 
grossly he had been imposed upon, returned home full of anger 
against the slanderers. The next morning he dismissed from 
his service several notorious A. P. A.'s and in 'ftieir stead, took 
Catholics into his pay. About the same time, a well known Protes- 
tant lawyer was so impressed by the evident falsehoods published 
against Catholics, that he determined to take the final step which 
he had been meditating for some time, and he entered the 
Church. 

As an indication that good men were respected, it is a cir- 
cumstance deserving attention that Frank Burkley was Prefect 
of the Gentlemen's Sodality at the College Church, conspicuous 
at its meetings and Communions, at the very time when he was 
elected to the City Council, the A. P. A. being at the height of its 
power and trying its utmost to defeat him on the score of his 
Catholicity. 

Father Hoeffer was a very popular preacher and lecturer and 
drew large audiences to the Sunday night lectures given at that 
time. Some of these were remarkably eloquent and learned. A 
full report of a magnificent and masterly discourse on "The Jes- 
uits" was printed in the Bee in the midst of the A. P. A. excite- 
ment. It deserves to be reprinted for wide circulation and perma- 
nent preservation. 



A. P. A. FANATICISM. 1 35 

Besides the service done by Father Hoeffer in stemming the 
tide of A. P. A. aggression, Father Thos. E. Sherman gave a 
notable Lecture on '*True Americanism" in the Exposition Hall, 
to one of the largest and most representative audiences ever as- 
sembled in Omaha. The reception committee of about 75 was 
composed of the most prominent citizens, consisting of non-< 
Catholic clergymen, soldiers, statesmen, the medical profession 
and the bar. This list should be preserved for memory and those 
who found a place on it, should be cherished by Catholics for 
their manliness and courage in standing up for religious liberty 
under trying circumstances. 

Rev. John Williams, Pastor of the Episcopalian Church of 
St. Barnabas, through the columns of his "Parish Messenger^' 
from January, 1893 to May, 1894, carried on a vigorous defense 
of the Catholics. We regret that space does not allow of ex- 
tended quotations from his pages, teeming with virile thoughts 
and uncompromising denunciation of the cowardly gang. 

The Dark Lantern Society brought the notorious Margaret 
Shepherd to Om::ha to lecture in 1897. Several days before her 
first lecture, insulting dodgers were distributed throughout the 
city. Not a single Omaha daily paper mentioned her name either 
before or after her discourses. Her first lecture was slimly at- 
tended by a few anaemic, ill-fed, small-eyed bigots, eager to hear 
her salacious story; and even some of these hissed her and left 
the hall as soon as she began to speak of the superstitious prac- 
tices of her Catholic mother and sister. She is an English wo- 
man and her convent experience was limited to a short involun- 
tary commitment to the Good Shepherd Convent in Bristol, 
England. She was a penitent there, that is, she was placed in 
this Institution for wayward women, just as girls are placed in 
all Good Shepherd Institutions. She was never a sister or mem- 
ber of the Order. The escapades of Margaret since she chose to 
engage in the ex-nun business, are numerous ; so much so that 
Rev. M. J. Brady of Woodstock, Ont., required a sixty page 
pamphlet to expose some of her doings. And this was the wo- 
man invited to bring to light the lax morality of the Catholics ! 

Trouble was expected in consequence of her coming and to 
prevent disturbance the Chief of Police issued the following or- 



136 A. P. A. FANATICISM. 

der to Captains of Police, with reference to her Lecture on 
"Romanism," appropriately advertised by yellow dodgers. 

"To Captain Haze : 

"To-morrow at 7 45 o'clock p. m., there will be a lecture on 
"Romanism" at Washington Hall. You will detail a sufficient 
number of police officers in and about the Hall, to preserve order 
and protect the freedom of speech guaranteed by law. Do not 
permit the meeting to be disturbed or interrupted under any cir- 
cumstances. 

"To Captain Mostyn : 

You will detail police officers to be stationed at the follow- 
ing points to-morrow, December 5th. Twenty-fifth and California, 
Eighteenth and Izard, and Ninth and Harney Streets. You will 
instruct these officers to protect the freedom of public worship 
guaranteed by law, and not permit anyone to disturb or interfere 
with the worshipers who may attend the churches located near 
the points named, by the distribution of insulting dodgers or in 
any manner annoying said worshipers, either in the Churches 
or in the immediate vicinity of the same." The points named 
were the locations of Creighton College, the Holy Family Church 
and the Cathedral. 

The self-styled "patriots" found the adoption of the Mar- 
quette stamp at the time of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition a 
grievous affront. The Washington authorities had applied to 
one of the Omaha papers for a suitable design. The Editor sent 
up to the College for information. The President showed him 
Lamprect's Marquette as it appeared in the Messenger. Later 
the Government procured copies of the picture kept at Marquette 
College, Milwaukee. The day the Omaha stamps were issued, 
one of the students went down to buy some. The purchaser 
ahead of him asked for twenty-five dollars' worth of one-cent 
stamps. They were handed to him. After studying the picture 
for a moment, he said : "Here, take these old stamps back ; I 
don't want to advertise Jesuit Missionaries. Give me the ordin- 
ary U. S. one-cent stamp." The man at the other side of the 
counter said : "I cannot exchange them." And so this A. P. A. 
put Marquette next to his bosom and departed. 

While the religious war was on, the bigots did all they could 



A. P. A. FANATICISM. 1 37 

to harass the reHgious institutions, as well as John A. Creighton 
and other Catholic property holders, by opening streets, changing 
grades, ordering paving, curbing, guttering and other expensive 
municipal improvements, which piled up special taxes beyond 
measure and endurance at a time of great financial distress. This 
petty persecution affected St. Joseph's Hospital, the Poor Clares 
and Creighton College. An attempt was made to open 24th 
Street the whole length of the College grounds, taking the entire 
strip of 526 feet from the College property, and allowing a ridic- 
ulously trifling compensation for the land, and none at all for the 
ruin of the observatory site and for disfiguring the property by 
cutting diagonally across the whole College front. This project 
was thwarted by vigorous protest. 

Previous to this, the College authorities in order to avoid 
havinng an alley and outhouses facing them on the west, had 
dedicated half of a 58-foot street along that site of the property, 
on condition that there should be no change in the plat of the 
grounds lying west, and which had been accepted by the city. 
According to the plat approved of, the streets and alleys all ran 
north and south between California and Burt Streets, Twenty- 
fifth Avenue and Twenty-seventh Street, thus making unlikely 
and unnecessary the opening of Webster Street east and west 
through the College grounds, to the injury of the campus. Be- 
fore Twenty-fifth Avenue was opened, the Water Works Company 
was allowed to run a large main through that part of the 
grounds which it was felt would ultimately be opened as Twenty- 
fifth Avenue, with the understanding that the College should have 
water free as long as that strip remained private property. 



Healing the Sores of Lazarus. 




Non sola canum fert lingua medelam. 




' ^'V, 



-V 



V»-\ \\=JM^ !»^,^> !W^ 






\^' \ ^ejra.\ ■^k.Ml Ik^i. k» 
A •i.^l ^*^«1 lk_«) 'kJl 



mM\ 'Miml .^Jiis!^ ,»©• 
■ifei^.\ %m\ ^^m\ 'feM» 








f.^^Si*,>. ^Sfci;', -««-^ ^*^'-.: »'^,-: 

"- «3S»1 i-'-ii '^-*. •-♦ f 

^\\ -jseas^ B^«f -s^^' -'=-^ ' ^^ ' 



-r 



CHAPTER XIX. 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 

IN 1892, the Hon. John A. Creighton signified his wilHngness 
to found the Medical Department of Creighton University, 
To carry out his idea, the Board of Trustees held a meeting 
May 3d, 1892, and unanimously resolved to establish the "John 
A. Creighton Medical College" as a department of the University. 
This action was taken in virtue of an act of the Legislature, 
passed February 27th, 1879, giving the University authorities 
power to "erect within, and, as departments of said institution, 
such schools and colleges of the arts, sciences and professions, as 
to them may seem proper." The funds necessary for maintaining 
the College, until it was on a paying basis, were guaranteed by 
the founder. Thirty-six students representing six states, were 
registered the first year ; and the number kept on steadily in- 
creasing until in the year 1900, one hundred and forty-three were 
in attendance. It was the first institution in this section to re- 
quire a four years' course of medicine, which it did in October, 
1896. 

When the College began, it was confidently expected that 
a large and suitable building would be speedily erected for its 
needs ; but unforeseen circumstances prevented the immediate 
accomplishment of the design and for several years the Faculty 
worked at considerable disadvantage. Nevertheless, by close 
attention and devotion to the enterprise, they built up a most 
creditable school, with a large outdoor dispensary for the grat- 
uitous treatment of the poor. Pending the erection of a commo- 
dious structure, the College found a temporary home at 12th and 
Mason Streets, in the old St. Joseph's Hospital, which had been 
vacated on the completion of the Creighton Memorial. This 
magnificent Hospital was founded in 1888, by Mrs. Sarah Emily 
Creighton, who bequeathed to the Fransiscan Sisterhood, $50,000 

(139) 



140 HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 

towards the construction of a new building. Mr. Creighton took 
up, as a labor of love, the project initiated by his noble wife and 
determined to make it a worthy memorial of her. Besides donating 
the ground on which the edifice stands, he added twofold to the 
amount of the original legacy, insuring thereby the construction 
of the best and most elegant hospital in the West. It is located 
at loth and Castellar Streets, on high and salubrious ground, 
and for picturesque situation, healthfulness and facility of access, 
no better site could have been chosen. The hospital is the prop- 
erty of the Franciscan Sisterhood. By an arrangement made 
with the Sisters in charge of the Hospital, through the good 
offices of the founder of the Medical School, all clinical material 
and advantages have from the beginning been reserved, and will 
continue to be devoted in perpetuity, to the exclusive use of the 
Faculty and students of the John A. Creighton Medical College. 
What this means can be inferred from the fact that this hospital 
has always treated more cases than all the other Omaha hospitals 
combined. The agreement referred to was entered into by John 
A. Creighton and Mother Xavier, Superioress of the Franciscan 
Sisterhood, in presence of Father J. F. X. Hoeffer. The annual 
reports of the hospital speak of the clinical advantages as being 
reserved for the Creighton Medical College. 

On its own account, as well as because of its close connection 
with Creighton Medical College, St. Joseph's Hospital deserves 
more than passing notice. It was fir,st opened for the reception 
of patients September ist, 1870, a two-story frame building, con- 
taining two wards and ten rooms, having been erected by the 
Sisters of Mercy, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, the money be- 
ing obtained through personal solicitation by the Sisters. Two 
years later the capacity of the building was doubled, at an outlay 
of fourteen thousand dollars, the funds being secured in the same 
way as before. April loth, 1880, the management passed into the 
hands of the Sisters of St. Francis. In 1882 these Sisters ren- 
dered the city efficient service by taking charge of a temporary 
small-pox hospital, provided by the City Council, for several 
cases which made their appearance here. This service continued 
for several months, and at the end of that time James E. Boyd, 
then Mayor, sent the Sisters his personal check for a handsome 
sum, in recognition of their self-denying work. It was suggested 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. I4I 

that the Council make an appropriation to the Hospital in this 
connection, but the suggestion was not adopted, owing to the 
unwillingness of Bishop O'Connor to accept municipal aid. The 
growth of the city having rendered the late location of the Hos- 
pital undesirable for the purpose, the new Creighton Memorial 
Hospital, with accommodations for three-hundred patients, was 
erected on a beautiful site under circumstances already described. 
It has a frontage of two hundred feet on Tenth Street with two 
wings extending eastward one-hundred and fifty feet. The cor- 
ner-stone was laid on November 23rd, 1890, with impressive 
ceremonies, conducted by Bishop Scannell then of Concordia; 
and the building was completed and occupied in June, 1892. In 
1900 a chapel 42x87 feet was erected, at a cost of $22,000. Other 
interesting particulars are contained in the annual reports of the 
Hospital. The Sisters are held in the highest esteem by all the 
citizens of Omaha, irrespective of creed. 

Though the temporary quarters of the College furnished all 
the facilities that were essential for practical teaching, it soon 
became evident that something better was needed to meet the re- 
quirements of the rapidly increasing number of students. It had 
long been the cherished wish and intention of John A. Creighton 
to build a permanent home for the department of Medicine, and 
thus forever unite, by means of a sympathetic bond, the two in- 
stitutions dear to him, the Creighton University and the Creigh- 
ton Memorial Hospital. Through his liberality such a building 
was completed and ready for use in October, 1898. It was 
thrown open for the first time to the class of 1898-1899. The 
building is situated on the northwest corner of 14th and Daven- 
port Streets, where it stands a monument to its founder, an in- 
spiration to the Medical profession and an ornament to the city. 
The building, furniture and equipment cost about $80,000, with- 
out counting the value of the ground. 

The site selected is in every way a suitable one, being in close 
touch with the business portion of Omaha, easily accessible to 
students and visitors, and particularly convenient for outdoor 
clinics and free dispensary work. It is located within two blocks 
of five street-car lines, two of which pass in front of the building, 
one of them connecting directly with St. Joseph's Hospital. The 



142 HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 

building is modern throughout and was put up under the im- 
mediate supervision of Mr. James Creighton. 

After the completion of the College, an operating building, 
with a large amphitheatre, the only one in the city, was erected 
for the use of professors and students, at a cost of $10,000. It 
is placed between the wings of St. Joseph's Hospital with which 
it is in immediate connection. 

The Creighton Medical Bulletin was likewise started in Feb- 
ruary, 1898. It is mainly a students' enterprise, carried on under 
the direction of the Faculty. The periodical has been ably con- 
ducted and has enjoyed uninterrupted success. By contributing 
to its pages the students become accustomed to writing papers 
for publication. The Bulletin has helped not a little to make the 
institution better known. 

It is no unusual thing for the Professors to leave their posts 
from time to time, in order to travel and study abroad, thus keep- 
ing themselves in touch with the best minds in their profession, 
making themselves better acquainted with the progress of science, 
learning improved methods of imparting knowledge, and fitting 
themselves to be eminently helpful to those committed to their 
charge. 

The John A. Creighton Medical College, belongs to, and is 
part of the Creighton University. In accordance with the special 
desire of the founder, appointments to professorship are made by 
the Board of Trustees of Creighton University; because the 
founder desired the appointive power to be vested in a body, that 
would be remote from the professional rivalries which sometimes 
dwarf talent, impair the standard of teaching, interfere with the 
esprit de corps, and prevent the attainment of the best results. It 
has, however, been the uniform practice to defer greatly to the 
wishes of the Board of Regents, so that the selections made may 
bring together a congenial and harmonious faculty. Recom- 
mendations coming from the professors, especially as the result 
of discussions at the Faculty meetings, are referred to the Board 
of Regents for final action. To the latter body ultimately belongs 
the determination of all important points relating to the course of 
studies, discipline, division of hours, proper methods of instruc- 
tion, relative importance of branches, and the internal govern- 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 1 43 

ment of the College. The Board of Trustees confers the degrees 
on the recommendation of the Faculty. 

Though the Creighton University is a Catholic Institution, 
the profession of any other religion has never been a barrier to 
admission into any of its departments; and in keeping with the 
broad spirit of toleration so prevalent in our republic, professors 
and students of every creed have found a welcome in the Medical 
College, without any attempt being made to restrict, in the least, 
their liberty of religious belief and practice. Animated by that 
broad Catholic spirit which adopts the best talent, wherever 
found, the Trustees have never allowed denominational differ- 
ences to stand in the way of their securing the best professors. 
The harmony among a staff, composed from the beginning of 
men of every form of belief, as well as the readiness of students 
to enter and remain in the classes, are a sufficient indication that 
religious opinions have not introduced a disturbing element into 
this College. The sole wish of the founder, whose desires the 
Board of Trustees have loyally endeavored to carry out, has been 
to form Doctors, who, while eminently equipped for the duties of 
their profession, will pride themselves on being conscientious, 
upright, honorable and willing to act according to the principles 
of sound morality. Medical science can be taught without setting 
at naught the Christian religion, making light of divine revela- 
tion or inculcating a baleful materialism. However divergent 
their religious views in other respects, the professors unani- 
mously approve a system carried along on these broad lines. To 
this extent, the founder of the John A. Creighton Medical College 
wished religion to influence the study of medicine. 

Father Hoeffer, besides starting the Medical College had be- 
gun in it a series of lectures on medical jurisprudence, which 
Father Coppens continued after him. The latter published in 
1897, a book styled "Moral Principles and Medical Practice" 
which is used as a text book. It is now in its fourth edition and 
has been translated into French, German and Spanish, besides be- 
ing republished in its most important parts in an Australian 
periodical. 

During the financial depression already referred to, the Med- 
ical College was in great danger of being closed. The building 
used up to that time was out of repair and had become totally 



144 HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 

unfit for further service. Mr. Creighton had begun to erect a 
suitable structure to replace it, and had finished the foundation 
in the Fall. But the next Spring, owing to very heavy taxes, 
scanty income and general stagnation in business, he did not see 
his way to continuing the undertaking and the Medical Faculty 
had almost resolved to suspend teaching until better times re- 
turned, when the founder encouraged by the action of the mer- 
chants who had just determined to get up the Trans-Mississippi 
Exposition, summoned his architect and resumed work on the 
future Medical College. No sooner was it occupied than the num- 
ber of its students rose rapidly, and the Institution is now self- 
supporting. 

For years. Dr. De Witt C. Bryant was the soul of the Creigh- 
ton Medical College. His ability as an executive, his skill as an or- 
ganizer, his deep knowledge of human nature and keen insight 
into character, his acknowledged power as a leader, his recognized 
standing in his profession, — all contributed to make him an in- 
dispensable factor and an assured success as Dean of Creighton 
Medical College. His pleasant smile, his genial manners, his un- 
affected simplicity had an irresistible charm; he was ever affable 
and accessible; in the darkest days, when the future of the Col- 
lege was most doubtful, he was calm and imperturbable, cheerful 
and full of hope. He was dear to all, professors and students 
alike, and all had confidence in him, because he knew when to be 
firm and when to relax, and at no time was he unwilling to listen 
calmly and decide justly, and if necessary, to pour oil on the 
troubled waters. When they went to him with a grievance, they 
often returned wondering why they had been so excited. It is not 
surprising that a man of his scientific and literary training and 
wide scope of attainments, should want a good school or none at 
all. He knew what good teaching was and would not be satisfied 
with anything inferior. He tested his staff before accepting it 
and his judgment was uniformly correct. The strength and force 
of his moral perceptions made him more than an ordinary physi- 
cian or teacher and contributed to his success. Yet he did every- 
thing without apparent effort; for the hidden power worked 
smoothly as well as efficaciously. Dr. Bryant was a man in a 
thousand. But with all his strength, and magnetism, he could not 
have compassed such results had he not been seconded by a de- 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 1 45 

voted, loyal and accomplished Faculty, composed of men like Doc- 
tors Riley, Lord, Henry, Crummer and Spalding. 

Dr. J. S. Foote also deserves special mention. He was nat- 
urally a scholar, a student and a teacher ; a lover of scientific pur- 
suits, rather than a man of action. He courted retirement and 
was just the man to wring from nature her most profound secrets. 
He viewed everything through the medium of science ; yet he pos- 
sessed a deeply religious nature. He preferred to teach, because 
he loved what was intellectual, uplifting and noble, and he made 
the lecture room and the laboratory his field of work, never car- 
ing to practise medicine. Somehow or other, the scientific and 
medical societies found him out and drew him from his retirement 
to deliver lectures and read addresses to them. His original 
methods of handling his subjects, under the heads of histology, 
physiology and pathology, did more than any other feature to at- 
tract and retain students. They wished to take at least the first 
and second year under him — and as a matter of course, remained 
until the end of the fourth. Unassuming and disinterested, with 
no trace of a mercenary spirit, affectionate and appreciative at 
heart, he hid his fascinating qualities under a cold and unimpres- 
sionable exterior; his enthusiasm and his confidence he reserved 
only for his closest friends. 

The following constituted the original Faculty of the John 
A. Creighton Medical College. 

Doctors A. W. Riley, Paul Grossman, W. J. Galbraith, B. F. 
Crummer, P. S. Keogh, H. P. Jensen, J. P. Lord, J. H. Peabody, 
D. C. Bryant, H. L. Burrell, S. K. Spalding, W. R. Martin, C. 
Rosewater, F. E. Coulter, W. M. Barritt, J. D. Peabody, A. John- 
son, G. H. Brash, and W. S. Robinson, Ph. C. 

The high character of the Faculty has been maintained ever 
since. One of the professors, Dr. Charles F. Crowley, A. M., 
Ph. C, was invited, in July, 1901, to give a course of lectures to 
the Post-Graduate Chemical Institute at Wichita, Kansas. The 
appreciation in which he was held is shown by the following ex- 
tract from a letter of one of those present : 

"I simply want to express my delight, and the delight of all 
who have met and heard him, in the brilliant personal and scien- 
tific qualities of your professor of chemistry. In the Post-Grad- 
uate Chemical Institute which he has been conducting here for 



146 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL COLLEGE BUILT. 



US he has had the leading physicians of the city, some of them 
men of fine professional training and rare experience, as his aud- 
itors, and without a single exception they are full of admiration 
for his genius as a constructive scientist and as a teacher of men. 
We are simply in love with him. You will be lucky if you are 
able to keep such a man in perpetuity. Any institution in the 
world might be proud to possess him. After our institution has 
developed a little more we hope to bid for him ourselves." 



The Healing Art. 




Causas mille salutis habet. 




RT. REV. RICHARD SCANNELL, D. D. 



CHAPTER XX. 



ST. JOHN S BECOMES A PARISH. 

SEVERAL years after its establishment, St. John's Church be- 
gan to be a source of contention. A Collegiate Church was 
then an unknown and little understood factor in ecclesiastical cir- 
cles in the West, and soon proved itself more than unwelcome. 
Without parochial responsibility, though receiving the support of 
the faithful, it was considered to have no raison d'etre whatever. 
As early as 1893, it was a subject of lively discussion and consid- 
erable reproach. 

Moved by constant complaints, the Rt. Rev. Bishop finally 
informed Father Fitzgerald, the Provincial, that he wished the 
members of the Society to confine their labors to hearing confes- 
sions and saying early Masses in St. John's. Father Fitzgerald, 
after consulting the General of the Order, came on to Omaha to 
confer with the Bishop and assure him that what he desired would 
be done. After considerable deliberation, however, a new basis of 
agreement was reached. It was this : St. John's could be used 
as a Parish Qiurch with parochial rights and new parochial boun- 
daries, provided Holy Family Church were given up to the Bishop 
and the privileges granted by Bishop O'Connor, when establish- 
ing the Holy Family Parish, were surrendered. (See Indenture 
of Nov. I, 1881, in Chap. IX of this Vol.) This was accept- 
able on both sides and thereupon, St. John's began to be used as 
a Parish Church and Holy Family was put in charge of the sec- 
ular clergy. 

On January loth, 1897, the following letter from the Bishop 
was read, at the various Masses, in all the Churches affected by 
this agreement: 

"Having found, after mature consideration, that the welfare 
of religion requires a new arrangement of some of the city par- 
ishes, and having taken the advice of the Diocesan consultors and 

(147) 



148 ST. JOHN'S BECOMES A PARISH. 

of the pastors whose parishes would be affected by the proposed 
new arrangement, I beg to announce the following changes : 

"FIRST. The territory bounded on the south by the north 
side of Dodge Street, on the west by the east side of Thirtieth 
Street, on the north by the south side of Parker and Grace 
Streets, and on the east by the west side of Twentieth Street, is 
hereby constituted a parish and is put in charge of the Jesuit Fa- 
thers of Creighton College. 

SECONDLY. The Holy Family Parish will for the future 
be bounded as follows : On the south by the north side of Cass 
Street, on the west by the east side of Twentieth Street, on the 
north by the south side of Grace Street, and on the east by the 
Missouri River. 

THIRDLY. The southern boundary of the Sacred Heart 
Parish will be, for the future, the north side of Parker and Grace 
Streets. 

FOURTHLY. The northern boundary of St. Peter's Parish 
will be, for the future, the south side of Dodge Street. 
A. M. CoLANERi, Chancellor. Richard Scannell, 

Bishop of Omaha." 

The World-Herald commented upon the letter in this vein : 

"By giving to St. John's Collegiate Church a parish is con- 
summated a step which has been expected for many years. When 
the house of worship was dedicated in 1887, it was intended sim- 
ply as a chapel in connection with the college, but numbers of the 
Catholics of the city have been in the habit of attending service 
there, in many cases neglecting the Church to which they owed 
allegiance. The Fathers in connection with the Church have had 
none of the rights or duties which pertain to those in charge of 
regular parishes, no weddings, christenings or funeral services 
being held there, except by special dispensation. Most of the ter- 
ritory for the new parish is cut from that of the Holy Family 
Church, also at present in charge of the Jesuit Fathers, while St. 
Peter's Parish under the care of Father Walsh, contributes a 
share. Another slice is taken from the Holy Family Parish, the 
portion between Lake and Grace Streets, and is attached to the 
Sacred Heart Parish. 

"No pastor has yet been appointed for the new Church, but 



ST. JOHN'S BECOMES A PARISH. 1 49 

some members of the Order will be assigned to the work by the 
Provincial of this district in the near future." 

The conclusions arrived at were embodied in a document 
signed January 7th, 1897. 

"This Indenture, between the Rt. Reverend Richard Scannell, 
Bishop of Omaha, on the one part, and the Very Rev. Thomas 
Fitzgerald, Provincial of the Society of Jesus in the Province of 
Missouri, on the other part, WITNESSETH : 

"i. That the said Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell, for himself and 
his successors in office, having first taken the advice of the con- 
suitors of the diocese of Omaha and of the pastors who are con- 
cerned and who by law ought to be consulted, and also having 
obtained the necessary permission of the Holy See, hereby agrees 
to assign in perpetuity to the Jesuit Fathers of the Province of 
Missouri, a certain territory of the city of Omaha, to be ruled and 
administered by them as a parish, and the Fathers of said Pro- 
vince shall have all the rights and privileges which the canon law 
of the Church and the statutes of the diocese of Omaha grant to 
the pastors of parishes, and said rights and privileges the said 
Fathers shall exercise within the limits of said territory and no- 
where else. 

"2. The territory so assigned to the said Fathers shall be 
bounded as follows : 

"On the south by the north side of Dodge Street ; on the west 
by the east side of Thirtieth Street ; on the north by the south side 
of Parker and Grace Streets, and on the east by the west side of 
Twentieth Street. 

"3. And the Very Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald, for himself and 
his successors in office, hereby agrees to accept the said territory 
as a parish, and to administer said parish in temporal and spirit- 
ual affairs according to the requirement of the canon law, and the 
statutes of the diocese of Omaha. 

"4. And the Very Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald further agrees 
that the title to the present Holy Family Church, namely, lots 
I, 2, 3 and 4, Block Two Hundred and Two ^, shall be trans- 
ferred immediately to the said Richard Scannell ; and also that 
the Fathers of the said Province of Missouri, who now have 
charge of the Holy Family Church, shall withdraw from said 
charge as soon as the said Right Rev. Scannell shall request them 



150 ST. JOHN'S BECOMES A PARISH. 

to do SO, and shall have no further right or authority to adminis- 
ter the affairs, spiritual or temporal of said Holy Family Church. 

"5. And the said Very Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald, furthermore 
agrees to surrender to the party of the first part, a certain agree- 
ment entered into with the Rt. Rev. James O'Connor, Bishop of 
Dibona, and Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska, said agreement being 
dated November 4th, 1881, having for its object the transferring 
of the Holy Family Church to the Jesuit Fathers of the Missouri 
Province, and the assigning of a certain defined territory to the 
said church as a parish. And it is now declared, by mutual con- 
sent, that the said agreement is no longer binding on either party 
to this present agreement." 

To bring St. John's Church in line with the parish churches 
of the city and permit the property to be held in the name of the 
Bishop or of a Church Corporation, it was thought that Creigh- 
ton University, might, for a merely nominal sum, sell or lease the 
Church together with the ground on which it stood. J. M. Wool- 
worth was consulted and after careful examination of the propo- 
sition of changing the collegiate church into a parish church, gave 
the following opinion: 

"i. The Creighton University, Trustee for Creighton Col- 
lege, cannot sell any of the present Creighton College estate, 
without obtaining a decree of Court, which would not be granted 
except in case the property in question would fail for the purpose 
for which it was originally bequeathed. 

"2. Said Trustee cannot lease or let any of said grounds or 
buildings of the present College site, except by decree of Court, 
which would not be granted except in case mentioned in number 
one. 

"And, moreover, the Court would require that such property 
must be leased or let on the basis of its market value, and would 
probably order a re-assessment to be made every few years. 

"3. Said Trustees cannot sell or lease the College Church 
property, except by decree of Court, which would hardly be 
granted for lack of sufficient reason. 

"4. But the Trustees can, by resolution, superadd to the 
uses of the Collegiate Church, the uses and duties of a parish 
church." 

Incidentally, it was also declared that, according to the tenor 



ST. JOHNS BECOMES A PARISH. I5I 

of the will of Mrs. Sarah Emily Creighton, the Trustees are 
obliged to make an annual statement of the Douglas Street stores, 
just as is done with the legacy of Mrs. Mary Lucretia Creighton. 

To meet the legal requirements, the Board of Trustees of 
Creighton University on January 9th, 1897, passed this resolu- 
tion : 

"WHEREAS, on the 7th day of January, 1897, the Rt. Rev. 
Richard Scannell, Bishop of Omaha, by a written agreement, has 
granted the uses of a parish church to be superadded to the uses 
of a collegiate church of St. John's and has assigned boundaries, 
accordingly. 

"RESOLVED, in compliance with the said grant of the 
Bishop, that to the uses of the Collegiate Church of St. John's be 
added those of a Parish Church, and that the Fathers assigned as 
priests of said Church, shall have and enjoy all the rights and 
privileges of and shall discharge all the duties of parish priests 
within the boundaries, as aforesaid, assigned by the said Bishop." 

On January 14th, 1897, the same Board formally accepted 
the proposal of the Bishop and ordered and empowered the Presi- 
dent to convey the Holy Family Church property. This was done 
by a quit-claim deed, January nth, 1897. And the new'i order 
began. 

Rev. Joseph Meuffels was the first pastor; and immediately 
on his arrival, he organized sodalities of men, married women, 
young ladies and school children. The branch school already 
spoken of, was moved to a lot opposite the college and opened in 
September, 1897, with 78 pupils divided into four grades under 
two Sisters of Mercy. This house, together with an adjacent 
residence, transformed into a school, to accommodate the increas- 
ing pupils and an additional Sister, supplied parochial school 
facilities for several years. 

In August, 1897, Father Meuffels was sent to British Hon- 
duras, and Father M. M. Bronsgeest became pastor with Father 
John F. Weir as assistant. The latter was subsequently replaced 
by Father P. A. Murphy. 

In March, 1899, the work of renovating the church began. 
This renovation was sadly needed, because anything not abso- 
lutely necessary, both within and without, had been disregarded 
during the period of depression. The church was painted ; the 



152 ST. John's becomes a parish. 

cross gilded; a storm-door put up; the interior frescoed; electric 
lights put in; stone walks, steps and wall, besides sodding and 
flower beds, provided for the front. All this put new spirit into 
the parishioners and they contributed liberally toward the im- 
provements, which cost in the neighborhood of $3000.00. After 
the Church had put on its gala attire, the renovation was cele»- 
brated with a sacred concert and lecture on June 4th, 1897. As 
the school accommodations had for a long time been insufficient 
it was found necessary to provide better quarters. In June, 1900, 
a lot 66x142, opposite the Church, was bought for $2,000.00, the 
earth graded down, the frame school removed to the rear of the 
lot and kept for use while a substantial brick school house was 
being built in front. The new structure with its furnishings and 
various appointments, cost about $12,000. It is approximately 
48x58 feet and two stories high ; it has, besides an excellent 
basement, a mansard roof. Not only does it readily accommodate 
the 230 pupils in attendance in 1903, but it provides room for a 
considerable increase. The new school was inaugurated with a 
parish entertainment January 22nd, 1901. By the year 1903, the 
debt on the school had been diminished to $8700.00, with good 
prospects of a still further reduction in the future. 

In accordance with the wish of the Bishop, a church corpor- 
ation, such as is required for all the congregations in chaige of 
the secular clergy, was formed November 21st, 1900, under the 
name of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Omaha, for the 
purpose of holding the school property recently acquired and 
other property that might subsequently belong to the parish. The 
agreement between the Bishop and the Provincial when St. John's 
became a parish naturally led the way to this corporation, which, 
by the law of the state, consists of three ex officio members, the 
Bishop, the Vicar-General and the pastor, besides two laymen, the 
latter two being appointed and holding office for one year, or until 
their successors are appointed. The laymen on the Board were 
Frank J. Burkley and John T. Smith. An annual statement, ac- 
cording to a diocesan form and approved by the Church Com- 
mittee, must be presented to the Bishop who, according to the 
law of incorporation and the parochial constitution and by-laws 
founded on it, has entire control over every detail of Church man- 
agement. There are about 225 families in the parish. 



ST. JOHNS BECOMES A PARISH. 1 53 

The spiritual work done by the Jesuits in Omaha, may be 
gathered from this schedule, which covers the period from July, 
1901, to July, 1902 : Baptisms of children, 49 ; baptisms of adults, 
27; confessions heard, 23,299; communions in the Church, 16,- 
277; outside, 9,840; marriages, 18; last sacraments, 37; first com- 
munions, 52 ; sermons and exhortations, 388 ; catechetical instruc- 
tions, 499; retreats to religious, 10; to students, 4; private re- 
treats, I ; missions, i ; novenas and triduums, 6 ; visits to hos- 
pitals, 104; visits to prison, 8; visits to the sick, 157; number of 
sodalities, 7 ; number of sodalists, 523 ,; members of the Apostle- 
ship of Prayer, 760; boys in the parish school, no, girls, 86. 

The people of St. John's, like those of the Holy Family Par- 
ish, are faithful, devout and generous. They respond to every 
effort made for their spiritual or temporal advancement. This is 
true of all the Catholics of Omaha, and perhaps nowhere in the 
United States, have they done more, proportionate to their num- 
bers and means, or borne greater burdens more cheerfully than 
here. With a Catholic population of not more than 15,000 in the 
combined cities of Omaha and South Omaha, there are sixteen 
churches, ten of which have parish schools and thirteen of them, 
parochial residences. There are four Academies, two of them 
Boarding Schools, a Hospital, a Poor Clare Convent, a Good Shep- 
herd House, an Orphan Asylum, besides Creighton University 
and Creighton Medical College. The clergy are worthy of such a 
flock and lead devoted, zealous and self-denying lives. 

The children who attend St. John's parish school, are a very 
superior class. They come from good families, for the most part, 
are unusually well bred, polite, respectful, yet close to their pas- 
tors and teachers, full of affection and confidence. The tuition 
fees are almost enough to pay the salaries of the Sisters. It is a 
pleasure to enter their class-rooms and see how warmly the chil- 
dren welcome one, and how cheerful, free, bright and alert they 
all are. 

Among the families that have been sincerely devoted to St. 
John's, even before it was a parish church, are the McGinns, 
Itnyers, McShanes and Schenks. Of one who is now dead, a 
warm clerical friend writes : 

'Tf Mrs. John Schenk were still alive I doubt whether she 
would consent to my saying very much about her charities. They 



154 ST. John's becomes a parish. 

were manifold and abundant, but she preferred to do her good 
deeds in secret. For several years, she gave me a large sum of 
money, always on Good Friday and two or three days before 
Christmas," to be distributed among the poor. I generally handed 
it over to Father Koopmans, who knew the deserving poor better 
than any one in Omaha, and who dispensed the charity with dis- 
cretion, making many families happy at Christmas and Easter. 
Mrs. Schenk was particularly devout to the Blessed Sacrament, 
a frequent communicant herself, and she delighted in making 
things beautiful and attractive about the Altar. She gave largely 
toward fine Altars, furniture, linens and vestments. Her faithful 
coachman could tell of many quiet visits to the homes of the poor 
and baskets of clothing and groceries sent them. When the 'Con- 
gregation of the Children of Mary' was established in the Con- 
vent of the Sacred Heart at Omaha, she gave a sum of money for 
the founding of a library. Another favorite charity of hers was 
the purchase and distribution in many quarters of quantities of 
Catholic literature. God sent her a long and lingering disease 
which she bore with great patience and of which she died after 
much suffering on March 7th, 1896." 




HON. JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 



CHAPTER XXL 



HONORS FOR JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 

IT is not our purpose in this book to give any extended notice 
of the members of the Creighton family, because that has 
already been done in a series of biographical sketches, entitled 
"Creighton," a volume published under the auspices of the Uni- 
versity, In that work, justice has been done to the memory of the 
Founder, Edward Creighton, and his wife. There was, how- 
ever, a Creighton left. John. A. Creighton, younger brother of Ed- 
ward, has proved himself to be in enterprise, generosity, public- 
spiritedness, the peer of his distinguished brother. He is still 
among us, inflexible in devotion to duty, radiant in social mirth, 
magnificent in physical proportions, open-handed in the relief of 
distress and, naturally enough, basking in the love of rich and 
poor alike. But let us put off the pronouncing of his panegyric 
for at least a quarter of a century. Those who wish to hear his 
praises with the simple eloquence of grateful admiration may go 
to the sick in the wards of the Creighton Memorial Hospital, or 
to the students of the different departments of the Creighton Uni- 
versity. And if this does not suffice let them read in the superb 
and costly buildings, devoted to education and charity, the record 
of the deeds of John A. Creighton, written in characters that will 
never perish. 

In this hasty mention of him, we must not forget the sweet 
womanly character and high soul of the lady who was his partner 
in life. She has gone to her reward, followed by the sorrow and 
prayers of the many to whom while living she was an angel of 
mercy and of joy. Many a choice and valuable gift did she inter- 
mingle with the benefactions of her husband to Creighton Uni- 
versity. 

His merit was recognized by the Holy See and he was made a 
Knight of St. Gregory, Subsequently he was made a Count of 

(155) 



156 HONORS FOR JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 

the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo XIII. The latter honor 
was conferred on him in January, 1895. It was noteworthy on 
account of a reception in which the prominent Catholic families 
and the leading citizens of Omaha took part. 

The first part of the evening was taken up with a program 
of addresses by representatives of all the institutions with which 
the Creightons have enriched the city. President Pahls spoke 
for the Creighton University, Jesse V. Owens for Creighton Col- 
lege, Edward S. Furay, A. M., for Creighton Medical College, 
Edmund V. Krug for the Creighton Memorial Hospital and Jos- 
eph A. Madden for the Convent of Poor Clares. All the ad- 
dresses were sincerely congratulatory in tone, full of gratitude 
to Omaha's great exponent of charity and replete with good 
wishes for his future. 

President Pahls who made the address in behalf of the en- 
tire Institution, spoke substantially as follows : 

"We have assembled here for the purpose of honoring one 
whom the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church has recently 
deigned to dignify with the title of Count, as we learn from the 
following brief : 

'To Our Beloved Son, John A. Creighton, by Favor of His 
Eminence, Cardinal Mazella : Beloved Son, Health and Apostolic 
Benediction. Whereas, We behold thee universally esteemed for 
thy virtues, inasmuch as to the love of religion and piety thou unit- 
est a munificent liberality towards Catholic undertakings, to-wit: 
By founding and maintaining schools, monasteries and hospitals ; 
therefore, thou appearest to us worthy of a most exalted title of 
honor, both as a due reward for these thy benefactions as well as 
a signal proof of our Good Will in thy regard. 

'Wherefore, in virtue of our authority, by these presents, we 
•create, constitute and proclaim thee a Count, in such wise, how- 
ever, that such title belong not by right of transmission to thy pos- 
terity. To thee, therefore, beloved son, we grant that in public 
and private documents, and also in all apostolic letters whatso- 
ever, thou mayest and canst lawfully be called and addressed by 
the same title of honor and that thou mayest use and enjoy all 
the dignities, privileges, prerogatives and indults which others 
distinguished by the said title use and enjoy or are and shall be 



HONORS FOR JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 1 57 

allowed to use and enjoy, all things whatsoever to the contrary 
notwithstanding. 

'Given at Rome, in St. Peter's, under the Fisherman's Seal, 
the 15th day of January, 1895, of our Pontificate the Seventeenth 

^^^^' C. CARDINAL DE RUGGIERO. 

"In commissioning Cardinal Mazella, who is an American 
citizen, to be the conveyor of these presents, the Holy Father 
shows his accustomed good will and respect for our American 
institutions and proprieties. 

"After the eloquent tribute of praise, love and honor be- 
stowed upon Omaha's favored son by the great Leo XIII, it 
would be presumptuous in me to say anything save to express to 
his Holiness our most profound and unbounded gratitude for his 
gracious recognition of the virtues and services of our esteemed 
patron and friend, the guest of the evening, the Right Honorable 
Count Creighton. Permit me now in behalf of the Faculty to sa- 
lute you with all hail, to congratulate you on your new and ex- 
alted dignity, to wish you much joy and to cherish the hope that 
when you visit the eternal city you will present yourself in person 
to Pope Leo XIII and will express to His Holiness our most sin- 
cere thanks for the high and distinguished honor he has con- 
ferred upon you." 

After the addresses had been concluded. Count Creighton 
arose and briefly testified to his heartfelt thanks for the honor 
done him by the Faculty and students and expressed the hope 
that all who went out from the Institution endowed to the mem- 
ory of his brother, would do so with feelings of kindness toward 
them. 

At the conclusion of the program and amid the strains of 
an orchestra, the guests spent a couple of hours in personally con- 
gratulating Count Creighton. 

Another well-deserved honor was bestowed upon Count 
Creighton on May i, 1900, when in the presence of 500 invited 
guests, the Laetare Medal was given him in recognition of his 
many munificent gifts to the Church and its charities. The medal 
is the gift of Notre Dame University and is awarded only to those 
who have achieved special distinction by reason of services ren- 
dered to Religion. 



158 HONORS FOR JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 

This beautiful specimen of the jeweler's art, was presented 
by Very Rev. A. Morissey, President of Notre Dame University, 
who read the formal presentation address, of which a handsomely 
engrossed copy accompanied the medal. Count Creighton res- 
ponded to the presentation address, accepting the beautiful tribute 
with a few well chosen words. 

Among those who took part in the exercises, was William J. 
Onahan of Chicago, himself a Laetare medalist, who related a 
number of reminiscences illustrating the Count's beneficence. At 
the conclusion of the exercises, which consisted of addresses, in- 
terspersed with musical numbers, Count Creighton held an infor- 
mal reception. 

Rev. M. P. Dowling, President of the University, told of the 
esteem in which Count Creighton is held by both the Church and 
the community in which he lives. A few extracts from his ad- 
dress will furnish the key-note of the celebration : 

'T feel that it is to pay tribute to charity, as exemplified in 
the life and deeds of our honored friend, that we are assembled 
here to-night. The record of his benefactions is scattered up and 
down the heart of this great city. He follows in the footsteps of 
his worthy brother and both their wives, whose traditions of 
helpfulness were honored and respected before the present gener- 
ation was born. They assisted at the birth and rocked the cradle 
of every charitable enterprise known to Omaha in their time. 
This Institution is an enduring monument to their name. They 
lighted the lamp of benevolence at their own warm hearts, and 
never allowed it to become extinguished. This, then, is the jubi- 
lee of Christian Charity; the celebration of the marriage- feast 
of Benevolence and the honored name of Creighton. The man 
who never studied any fine-spun theories of philanthropy, but 
went to work with the simple directness of a generous heart, is 
before you to-night. He solved many a problem by recognizing 
that there is a limit to the mighty power of a dollar, and that it 
shrinks into insignificance beside the warm flesh and blood sym- 
pathy of a manly heart, and the moving pathos of a human tear. 

"To praise a man during his life and especially in his pres- 
ence savors of adulation and I shall not be guilty of it ; it is par- 
ticularly out of place in the case of a person of pronounced dem- 
ocratic tastes and spirit, who has never regarded himself as a 



HONORS FOR JOHN A. CKEIGHTON. I59 

hero, but considers himself merely as a representative of Provi- 
dence in dispensing some of the good things with which God 
has blessed him. I shall not offend his modesty nor your 
sense of propriety; but I feel justified, nevertheless, in stating 
what I conceive to be his spirit. Thrust into the arena of the 
nineteenth century, he has done well his appointed work. He 
never considered himself absolved from works of benevolence dur- 
ing life, because he had the intention of leaving some large en- 
dowment to charity by his last will and testament. There is 'many 
a slip twixt the cup and the lip' ; and good intentions often fail 
when they are not fostered by the living and ever-active fire of 
present charity. It sometimes happens that men are called away 
suddenly before they have time to put their affairs in order. Wills 
are daily contested and broken, on account of the prevalent de- 
lusion that he who leaves much for charity has been stricken with 
a dreadful form of insanity, and the persuasion of those who sur- 
vive, that they know better what he ought to have done and in- 
tended than he did himself. Charity performed during life is well 
done, because God demands charity from the living more than 
He has required it of the dead. He wishes it bestowed by the 
warm touch of a hand of flesh and blood and not snatched from 
the skeleton fingers of a corpse. All honor then to the recipient 
of the Lgetare Medal. His example is an inspiration. He has 
built his own monument and has seen the good grow under his 
own fostering hand. And though he has paid the penalty of all 
liberal men in being beseiged beyond measure by every form of 
application for help, he has not stayed his hand in \Yell-doing. 

"All honor, too, to the University of Notre Dame, whose 
happy conception of this means of showing appreciation of in- 
dividual merit has filled a gap, thereby removing the reproach 
that Catholic laymen must content themselves with the approba- 
tion of their conscience and their God, the unexpressed satisfac- 
tion of the discerning, the silent approval of the wise and prudent, 
the quiet word of commendation passing from lip to lip. Notre 
Dame University has taught us that a more solemn sanction is 
possible. The merit of its gift is enhanced by the utter absence 
of any mercenary or interested motive. If it had any other object 
in view than to reward conspicuous merit, the medal would have 
never gone to some who have received it ; for it would have been 
altogether beyond their power to offer any material recompense 
for the honor done them. It is sometimes said in a spirit of envy 
and jealousy that merit backed by wealth is the only merit re- 



l60 HONORS FOR JOHN A. CREIGHTON. 

warded. But Notre Dame has uttered an emphatic denial of this 
statement; she has scanned the field, and with an impartial hand 
bestowed her favor, in this instance, upon one who has thought 
it his duty to confine his efforts mainly to the upbuilding of the 
charities and educational works in his own state and city, and who 
has never, perhaps, even visited the great University of Notre 
Dame." 

In 1 90 1 Count Creighton took a trip to Europe. His home- 
coming and that of his party was marked by a welcome such as 
is accorded few men in private life. It was an impromptu demon- 
stration on the part of his closer friends, and more ardent admir- 
ers. In many respects it rivalled the formal public welcome to 
royalty. Several hundred people, notably the students and fac- 
ulty of Creighton University and Creighton Medical College, se- 
cured a special train over the Milwaukee road, met the returning 
wanderers at Neola, Iowa, and escorted them to Omaha with 
every reasonable attestation of joy. Following the arrival in Om- 
aha a reception was held at the Creighton home on North 
Twentieth Street, where the abundant felicitations of the occasion 
found expression in countless assurances of joy and friendship. 

Doubtless, Count Creighton anticipated a warm welcome as 
he neared his home ; but the manner and volume of the one ten- 
dered him took him wholly by surprise and brought tears of 
pleasure and grateful appreciation to his eyes. He and. his party 
had come from Chicago in the private car of General Agent F. A. 
Nash, who had gone to that point to meet them. It was only 
when Neola was reached, that Mr. Nash apprised the Count of the 
condition of affairs ; and, when the grand old man peered out of 
the car, he was surprised to find hundreds of his friends from 
Omaha drawn up to greet him. They did it with an uproar that 
is still echoing through the Iowa hills. There was a brass band 
with the party, but its tides of harmony were drowned in the vo- 
cal chorus, and, when Mr. Nash's car was attached to the welcom- 
ing special, the Count went slowly through the train exchanging 
handclasps with every one on board and endeavoring to express 
the great joy that was in his heart. 

The latest honor conferred on Mr. Creighton came to him in 
November, 1902, when V. Rev. Louis Martin, General of the So- 
ciety of Jesus, in recognition of his merit, sent him a beautiful 
and significant diploma, affiliating him to that Order as a bene- 
factor, and making him a partaker in all its good works and 
spiritual favors. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 

ABOUT $147,500 of the original Creighton bequest was left 
as an endowment fund, after the necessary amount had 
been spent in purchasing the site and paying for the erection of the 
main building. Father Thomas O'Neill, the Provincial, and his 
associates in ofifice at the time negotiations were carried on for 
the transfer of the College to the Society of Jesus, knew very well 
that this sum was entirely inadequate for the support of the In- 
stitution, especially if it developed into a real College, as they 
hoped it would. They therefore stipulated that when the con- 
ditions demanded such a course, tuition fees could be charged. 
In 1879, the prevailing rate of interest in Nebraska was very 
high. In consequence, the executors of the Creighton estate had 
been able to make some very good long-term investments. These 
were mostly in county bonds drawing from seven to ten per cent 
interest. At that time, even the daily balances in the bank, pro- 
vided they averaged more than $2,000 per day, drew four per cent 
interest. For several years the interest accruing from the in- 
vestment fund ran as high as $13,000. This was sufficient for 
maintaining the Institution at that time, for it was little more than 
a primary school, the work being entirely elementary and deal- 
ing principally with the three R's. Though this was not college 
work, the Fathers undertook it at the earnest solicitation of 
Bishop O'Connor who v>^as anxious to have something done for 
the boys of his episcopal city, which then numbered only 20,000 
or 30,000 inhabitants and stood sadly in need of all the educa- 
tional facilities it could secure. Moreover the provisions of the 
Creighton will were sufficiently elastic to include this kind of 
work for the time being. 

As the Institution developed, the revenues for several years 
continued to suffice and even allowed a little surplus to accumulate 

(161) 



1 62 A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 

for the days of famine, which everyone felt were sure to come. 
This favorable outcome was possible because most of the teach- 
ing was done by members of a religious order, who received no 
salaries, lived at the College very modestly and inexpensively and 
were contented with board, clothing and lodging. The few ex- 
terns engaged, for the most part took charge of the lower classes 
and were seldom paid more than $60.00 a month. Those were the 
days when everything in Omaha was carried on at high pressure 
and everybody was crazy about real estate. A man with $500.00 
capital, or less, would buy five or ten lots, paying $50,00 or $100.- 
00 on each, expecting to sell them at a considerable profit before 
the time came for a second payment on his purchase. The wild 
leaps in real estate can be judged from a single transaction, which 
affected the College. It also serves to explain the speculative fe- 
ver which seized on every inhabitant and opened up a fabulous 
range of possibility for disaster as well as wealth. In 1887 the 
authorities of the College were anxious to build a Collegiate 
Church, but not having any funds they determined to sell seven 
acres of ground which lay immediately south of the Sacred Heart 
Convent, in Park Place, at the western outskirts of the city. This 
property had been bought by Father Shaffel five or six years be- 
fore, with money belonging to the Society of Jesus, because the 
endowment funds could not be used for the purchase of real es- 
tate. The seven acres when bought cost less than $1,200; and 
they were sold five or six years later for $35,000, having in that 
brief time appreciated in value over thirty fold. The present 
holders of the property would no doubt be glad if they could sell 
for one half or one third, what they paid for it. The proceeds 
of this sale were used in the building of what is now St. John's 
Church. 

Of course the revenues derived from the original bequest 
were not the only means available for College maintenance. In 
1889 a business block worth about $60,000 was bequeathed by 
Mrs. John A. Creighton, who during her life had been a steady 
benefactor. Besides this and occasional donations from John A. 
Creighton, each member of the community turned into the com- 
mon fund whatever came to him from any source. Thus a sum 
of a couple of thousands of dollars came in annually from lec- 
tures, royalty on publications, literary articles, missions, retreats, 



A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 163 

assisting the secular clergy at Forty Hour Devotions and other 
ministerial functions such as Christmas and Easter, services as 
chaplains, honorariums for scientific work, officiating at functions 
where preaching was to be done, giving Lenten courses, and sim- 
ilar occupations engaged in, when the pressure of educational 
work allowed. All this helped to meet the current expenses. Af- 
ter a few years, when the revenues decreased and the work broad- 
ened out, all the resources were insufficient, until John A. Creigh- 
ton came to the rescue with such donations as were absolutely 
necessary to keep the College going. 

The experience has been such as to emphasize the fact that 
under the most favorable conditions and notwithstanding the most 
prudent management in the investment of moneys, deteriorations 
are bound to occur in endowment or trust funds ; and hence that 
the foundation must be sufficiently ample to allow for such inevi- 
table mishaps. 

The first serious danger loomed up in the midst of prosper- 
ity. The College had $36,000 invested in Platte County bonds. 
The interest had been paid regularly for several years, the bonds 
had been registered with the secretary of state, they were in the 
hands of bona fide purchasers, a portion of them belonged to the 
school fund of Nebraska, some of them to the Episcopalian dio- 
cese : everything seemed to indicate that they were a sure and 
safe investment, when, all of a sudden, the County Commission- 
ers decided to repudiate the entire issue of $100,000, on the 
ground that the bonds had not been legally issued, though they 
had been examined and passed upon by some of the ablest lawyers 
representing the various purchasers. A close investigation of the 
case showed that the Commissioners had some law on their side, 
whatever the equity might be ; for the same kind of a case had 
been decided adversely to the bondholders in Colorado and the 
Supreme Court of Nebraska had precedents already established 
which would make it necessary for the Court to reverse itself, if 
the bondholders were to get justice. The case dragged along sev- 
eral years, to the anxiety of the College Treasurer, until finally 
it was decided in favor of the validity of the bonds ; and security 
reigned once more in Creighton. 

The next tribulation was the hard times which began about 
1893 and ruined many a man who was looked upon as an excel- 



164 A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 

lent financier. The crash came so suddenly that no one seemed 
prepared for it or had time to provide against it. Such was the 
depreciation in values that loans secured by property valued at 
three times the amount of the investment were found to be almost 
worthless, as soon as the panic had performed its work. Insur- 
ance companies, loan and trust companies, bankers both local and 
eastern, threw upon the market at almost any price, large blocks 
of property which came to them by foreclosure. All they wanted 
was to get out of such an inhospitable field at all hazards. They 
lost heavily and cancelled these unfortunate accounts with a sigh, 
but they also demoralized prices, until everybody was at sea; no 
one knew what lots were worth, real estate was a drug and no 
one would purchase it at any price. This was the inheritance 
which fell to Father Hoeffer as Rector and Father Mathery as 
Treasurer; and which failed not during the administration of 
Father Pahls, causing many an uneasy hour to all of them. 
Though they did not pretend to be seasoned or expert investors, 
they did claim to lend money according to approved financial 
methods and with the advice of the ablest business men ; and the 
reverses of the College were those which befell moneyed institu- 
tions of that time. Thus a national bank noted for its safe and 
conservative methods lost nearly thirty thousand dollars on a 
second mortgage, which it simply erased from its books, because 
there was not salvage enough to justify buying in the property 
at a foreclosure sale. One able business man bought a lot for 
$34,000 and a few years later was offered $6,000 for it ; he would 
gladly have parted with it for $9,000, if he could have got that 
amount. In a number of cases the borrowers were not able to 
pay the College either principal or interest and it became neces- 
sary to foreclose mortgages on $48,000 of such loans. This was 
a serious inroad upon an endowment of $147,500. To make mat- 
ters worse, the laws of the state favored the debtor class, so that 
it took years instead of months to foreclose a mortgage. Mjean- 
while, the security depreciated ; the houses were allowed to fall 
into disrepair ; taxes v/ere left unpaid ; the former owner got all 
he could out of the property before he lost it and, when it finally 
came into the hands of the lender, it was all but worthless. The 
$48,000 worth of property which came to the College by fore- 
closure, would not now (1903) be worth $38,000. Counting the 



A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 165 

court expenses, lawyers' fees and back taxes, incidental to the pro- 
cess of recovery, the depreciation becomes still more conspicuous. 
Yet the property stands on the books as representing $48,000. 

Misfortunes seemed to follow thick and fast. Thus $1,400 
was lent on a house and three lots at Boulevard and the Belt Line. 
The borrower never paid a cent of interest and a tornado blew 
down the house. Several thousands were lent on a farm contain- 
ing a valuable sand pit, but the same "petered out" most unex- 
pectedly. A loan of $16,000 was made on a property, the house 
alone having cost $28,000 ; at no time since the foreclosure has it 
paid its way and though offered for sale at $12,000 it found no 
taker. When another property, on which $3,500 had been lent, 
came into the possession of the College, after years of litigation, 
burdened with unpaid general and special taxes, it was the most 
dilapidated structure man ever set eyes upon. Events have since 
proved that it would have been money in the hands of the treas- 
urer to have let the property go without any attempt at securing 
it ; for taxes, lawyers' fees, court expenses and repairs amounted 
to more than the holding has been worth any time since the de- 
fault in payment. 

It is not astonishing that in the light of these reverses the 
superiors of the Society should more than once have delib- 
erated about surrendering their trust to the Bishop and quitting 
Omaha. 

Added to these difficulties, was the iniquity of the A. P. A. 
times when no Catholic Institution had a shadow of a show for 
fair play even in the courts, and certainly not at the hands of 
sheriffs, deputies, appraisers, or any one else beholden to these 
fanatics for his position. An example in point is the so-called 
Sweezey case, which was the buffet of the courts for ten years. 
The College lent $10,000 to Sweezy taking a mortgage on prop- 
erty which amply secured its claims. Sweezy becoming em- 
barassed, made over his rights to a man named Clarke, who un- 
dertook to build two houses on a portion of the premises. As no 
one was willing to lend him money on a second mortgage, he 
executed, in addition to a second mortgage, a bond to secure the 
payment of the first mortgage when it fell due, thereby giving 
the lenders what seemed the equivalent of the first mortgage. 
With the money thus secured, he built the houses. As the interest 



1 66 A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 

was not paid, the holders of the second mortgage came into court 
asking for a foreclosure in their behalf. The College then ap- 
peared and argued that if there was to be a foreclosure, it should 
be in its interest as holder of the first mortgage. The case 
seemed clearly against the contestants when, as a parting shot, 
which they scarcely expected to do any execution, or to be taken 
seriously, they argued that the College was not entitled to recover 
because it had made the loan in the name of Creighton University, 
as Trustee of Creighton College, and though the University was 
incorporated the College was not. On this trivial technicality, 
the case was decided against the College. Nothing was left but 
an appeal to the Supreme Court, which at that time was so over- 
whelmed with litigation that it took four or five years for the case 
to come up for hearing. In giving judgment, the Supreme Court 
made short work of the decision in the lower court. It said : 

"The money which Sweezy borrowed from the University, 
either belonged to that Institution or to some one else or to no 
one. It assuredly was not Sweezy's. If it belonged to the Uni- 
versity, the latter can recover on its own account. If it belonged 
to anyone else, it can be recovered as Trustee for that party, who- 
ever he may be. If it belonged to no one, the University can hold 
it until the state asserts its right of escheat. Sweezy, who got the 
money on this promise and security to return it, is, with all his 
privies, estopped to claim as against the payee, that there is no one 
to whom the fund belongs. Whether it belongs to any one or 
not, it was in the University's possession, and the getting of it 
was an ample consideration for the note and mortgage as against 
the borrower and all his privies." 

The Court was disposed to grant affirmative relief; but as 
precedents forbade that, the decree of the District Court was re- 
versed and set aside and the case remanded. During the process 
of this suit, a strange anomaly presented itself; Clarke failed to 
make any appearance in the case, because it was clear that after 
the holders of the first and second mortgage had been satisfied,, 
there would be nothing left for him; yet, when the case was ap- 
pealed, he who by his own default admitted that he had no inter- 
est in the case, came again into the possession of the property and 
collected th -. rents, without being obliged to pay taxes or make re- 
pairs, until a receiver was appointed. After ten years of vexa- 



A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 1 67 

tion, loss and injustice, this chapter of wrong was closed by a 
favorable judgment. 

The desperate financial condition of the College at that time, 
was brought out in a memorandum made by Father Dowling in 
December, 1899, shortly after he became Rector for the second 
time. The following were some of the main points : 

"Seventy-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty dollars of 
the investment fund is inoperative and yields no revenue what- 
ever. It is classified as follows : $48,850 of the foreclosed mort- 
gages on real estate. This property is either unimproved or in 
such bad condition that the houses do not bring in enough to pay 
for repairs and taxes. The owners allowed the property to run 
down and taxes to accumulate while foreclosure proceedings were 
going on. It will be necessary to spend considerable sums to make 
these holdings available for either sale or rent. No money is ob- 
tainable for that purpose from any source and the interest coming 
in is utterly inadequate for the running expenses. The Sweezy 
case, involving $10,000.00, is still before the Supreme Court and 
will not be reached for at least two years yet. $5,000.00 is in- 
vested in a fair mortgage which will eventually prove good, but 
on which no interest has been paid for three or four years. 
$10,000.00 of the endowment fund has been used to maintain the 
College ; otherwise it would have been necessary to close its doors 
several years ago. In the event of our surrendering the trust, the 
Society of Jesus would be bound to make good this amount. 

"The above sums subtracted from the investment fund reduce 
the principal actually drawing interest to about $72,000. The 
interest derived from that amount, plus the rent of the Douglas 
Street stores, with whatever is earned by individual members of 
the community, is all that there is for the support of the College ; 
and it is entirely insufficient for the purpose, to say nothing of 
paying lawyers' fees and back taxes, as well as the cost of putting 
the property in fit condition for rent or sale. This struggle to 
maintain the College has been going on for five or six years, dur- 
ing which time the small interest account, accumulated in previ- 
ous years of prosperity, has been eaten up and an encroachment of 
$11,000 made on the endowment fund. This encroachment on the 
endowment fund was inevitable, notwithstanding the most earnest 
efforts and the most rigid economy. Any other body but a re- 



1 68 A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 

ligious order would have found it impossible to keep the Institu- 
tion going at all. The College cannot continue any longer with- 
out an addition to its present revenues. It will be necessary to 
have at least $7,500 a year until matters have been put on a more 
satisfactory footing and the $11,000 taken from the endowment 
fund restored. 

"In the present depressed condition of business and conse- 
quent depreciation, the foreclosed property is not worth the face 
value of the loans. No one is to blame for this, because the loans 
were made according to the conditions of our trust and by the 
advice of able financiers who have the interests of the College 
much at heart. We merely suffered from depreciation which was 
not foreseen by hundreds of good business men, who were driven 
to the wall during an unexampled financial crisis. 

"Now, what can be done under the circumstances? Several 
courses are open : 

1. The Society of Jesus can pay over to the endowment fund 
$11,000 and deliver up its trust to the Bishop. This course would 
be deplorable from every point of view. 

2. Charge tuition. In that case, the prestige of a free Col- 
lege is gone. Besides, it is doubtful if there would be an appre- 
ciable number of students should free tuition be withdrawn. 

3. Maintain the collegiate course and suspend the academic 
department. This, however, would not materially lessen expenses. 

4. Suspend the collegiate classes and keep the academic de- 
partment in operation. The expenses would not even be cut in two 
by this expedient; and then you would merely have a High 
School. 

5. Suspend all the classes until we have had time to recover 
somewhat. Unless the necessary funds can be procured from 
some source, one of these plans must be adopted." So far the 
memorandum of conditions and remedies. 

Under these distressing circumstances, John A. Creighton 
came to the rescue and lifted the College out of its embarrass- 
ment. This memorandum was the first information he had of the 
extraordinary straits to which it was reduced, for the responsible 
officials of the College had tried to keep from him these sources 
of uneasiness, both because at that time he had enough troubles 
of his own and because he had hardly yet recovered from the tax 



A CHAPTER ON FINANCE. 1 69 

put upon his resources by the erection of the Creighton Medical 
College during a period of financial depression unequalled in the 
West. Thus, another chapter was added to his benefactions and 
Creighton College breathed once more. 

If the conditions of the Trust regarding the investment of 
money had not been so rigorous, the financial condition would 
be immeasuably better today, because Father Shafifel, Father 
Dowling and perhaps other Presidents, were anxious to invest in 
farm lands which could, in the '8o's have been acquired for a nom- 
inal price and are now the most valuable, reliable and desirable 
securities. In 1887, Father Dowling wished to invest some money 
belonging to the Society of Jesus in this way, and had already 
taken steps in that direction ; but his superiors in the Order after 
consultation on the subject, would not permit it, because to hold 
real estate for an increase in value had the appearance of a com- 
mercial transaction, and it is not allowable for ecclesiastics to en- 
gage in business. 

It may be asked what is the value of the buildings, ground 
and apparatus of the College. The building now in use for edu- 
cational purposes, including the main building and wings, library, 
observatory, auditorium, boiler-house, Church and Medical Col- 
lege, cost about $280,000. The grounds of the Classical and Med- 
ical Departments, are worth about $65,000. The apparatus, not 
counting any appliances at the Hospital, are worth about $30,000. 
The library represents an outlay of about $7^000. Furniture and 
other accessories about $10,000. The productive endowment 
(money and property of the permanent productive fund), amounts 
to about $215,000. 

It will readily be seen that it is a niatter of no small moment 
to manage and administer an estate of this magnitude wisely and 
securely, and that it requires considerable business ability. 



No Night without a Star. 




In tenebris lux inopina venit. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 

WHEN Father Pahls became Rector in 1894, he fell heir to 
the trials and difficulties that caused continued anxiety to 
his predecessor. In fact, most of them came to a head during his 
administration. Those were the darkest days Creighton ever ex- 
perienced. No wonder that he felt discouraged, hardly knew in 
what direction to turn for light, and often sighed for the little cor- 
ner room in St. Ignatius College, which he occupied as treasurer, 
before coming west. With resources crippled, friends apathetic 
and hopeless, a gloomy outlook on every side, Father Pahls still 
managed to hold his forces together and keep the College going. 
What he had to endure was especially hard for a man of his genial 
and kindly disposition, so much averse to strife and naturally in- 
clined to give rather than to take. His lines were certainly not 
cast in pleasant places and never was a man happier and more joy- 
ous than he, when his successor came to lift from his shoulders 
the burden of responsibility. 

Mr. William Whelan felt the new atmosphere as soon as he 
crossed the Missouri. "On a sunny morning in the middle of 
August, 1896, I arrived in Omaha wearied by a delay of several 
hours, but in ample time to realize that I had come west to grow 
up with the country. Accustomed to the hustle and bustle of a 
busy city, I was entirely unprepared to see such little rush and ac- 
tivity in the business portion of Omaha, though it was well on 
towards noon, and to experience the awful stillness that seemed 
to surround and to penetrate the College on the Hill. This silence 
impressed us much during the day, but at nightfall it became pos- 
itively appalling. After a short time, I considered it a part of the 
daily routine and contented myself with gazing listlessly far off 
towards the eastern horizon at the Northwestern train skirting 

(171) 



172 SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 

the immense bluffs in Iowa and listening in imagination to the 
toot of the whistle and clang of the bell. When, however, classes 
were resumed this feeling of monotonous loneliness partially dis- 
appeared during the day, but at night like a shroud it clung to us 
still. This all-pervading and gloomy tranquility was, in my opin- 
ion, due to the bursting of the boom some years before. The ef- 
fects of this collapse were visible even as late as 1896, when a large 
number of boys came to school because they could find nothing 
else to do. During my three years at Creighton from 1896 to 
1899, during two of which I taught Humanities and one. Poetry 
Class, I found the students as a body very docile and studious, 
extremely grateful for a favor granted, and most ambitious to 
become representative men in every line, especially in that of 
speaking." 

Mr. Joseph Lynam remained long enough to experience the 
reaction. "In August, 1897, I came to Omaha. The city seemed 
to be enjoying its quiet slumber on the banks of the Missouri ; 
everything so quiet and business dull. During my first ride 
through the city, the impression came upon me that the popula- 
tion had gone off on its vacation — a vacation much needed after 
the worry and troubles of the A. P. A. 'For Rent' signs were 
rather plentiful throughout the city. But with the advent of 
spring, came preparations for the Omaha Exposition, and the 
city took on new life. Nature supplied the Omaha hills and val- 
leys with plenty of green, while men supplied their dwellings with 
the most artistic colors. Many outsiders moved into Omaha and 
'For Rent' signs vanished. In our parish and other parts of the 
city not a single house or room could be had. Rent all over the 
city took a high jump." 

Yet some people led the strenuous life, even in those days of 
inactivity. This is a proof of it. "In 1895," says Fr. Lambert, 'T 
was called from St. Charles, Mo., to Omaha to teach. Father 
Pahls was President. Besides the mathematics of two classes, 
I taught evidences of Christianity. I stayed for five months. 
During that time, I gave a mission in St. John's Church, the re- 
treat to the College boys, and four missions in towns within a 
radius of twenty or thirty miles ; so that I left at three p. m., for 
the place where I was to give the mission, preached at night and 
in the morning, and then came back by 11 a. m. to teach, take 



SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 1 73 

dinner, teach again and go back once more to resume the mis- 
sion." 

As usual, Providence offered some compensation for all the 
trials of this period. It was found in the success attending the 
work of the professors. A quotation from the diary of Mr. James 
L. McGeary shows the spirit animating all. Without intending it, 
he gives evidence of the painstaking and conscientious work of 
the Faculty, their deep interest in their charges. There is a con- 
tagious enthusiasm about his description, which speaks well for 
himself and his confreres. 

"These years were very happy ones, and I often look back 
to them with pleasure, and with an exalted idea of the apostolate 
of the class-room. There was plenty of labor, but plenty, too, of 
encouragement, and abundant reward in the appreciation and en- 
thusiasm of the boys. The first year there were sixteen in Hu- 
manities, the second year, eighteen, and the third year, twenty- 
six. I still have the record-books of the three years, containing 
the names, daily class work and competition notes. Each boy's 
history is there for a year, done entirely in figures, a sort of nu- 
merical biography, much like the arid memoirs of a thermometer ; 
but, looking deeper, these rows and columns of numbers seem to 
have a magic of their own. They bring back the old familiar 
scene of the class-room, with the boys in their seats, untying their 
books, hunting up their exercises, and getting ready to begin the 
day's work. Then you can follow each one through his round of 
recitations. Here are the leaders of the class. What fine records 
they have ! Ten, almost every day, which means that they had 
their exercises or theme and gave satisfactory recitations. And 
there are several of them, all racing along, neck and neck, mak- 
ing a splendid, exciting contest ; and, before you know it, you are 
hurrying along after them to see who will be the winner. Then 
turn to some of the lazy fellows. Look at the miserable, dawd- 
ling slow-pokes ! Dragging and being dragged, absent a great 
deal especially during competitions, forgetting their themes, that 
is forgetting to do them, and so on — here is their story, as told by 
the cold, relentless figures. Some make an occasional 'spurt,' as 
you may see, and some even succeed at last in shaking off their 
lethargy. 

"However, after a careful survey of all these records, you are 



174 SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 

forced to these conclusions: that the standard at Creighton is 
high ; that the boys are very steady in their work ; that the classes 
— the upper classes, at least — are well graded; in a word, that 
the Creighton System is a success, and has proved its efficiency 
beyond all doubt. And, when we recall the fact that the method 
in use at Creighton is the Jesuit System, pure and simple, the 
system namely, of development and mental training, by means of 
the Classics, the Jesuits may point with just pride to this young 
College in the West as the latest vindication of their time-honored 
pedagogics. And, in this connection, too, one must perforce ad- 
mire the courage and persevering determination of the men who 
built Creighton on such a basis. What strength of conviction 
must have been needed for such up-hill work! What fixedness 
of purpose against such odds ! To enter into a pioneer town and 
raise it to a sense of appreciation of an elaborate and rather in- 
volved system of education, requires men of strong principle and 
undaunted determination. And that they were such is shown by 
the high standard of Creighton to-day. For, in an educational in- 
stitution the struggles of its infancy give color to its history; the 
degree of conservatism or tergiversation on the part of those who 
ruled, marks its future ever after, as surely as it tells of its 
past." 

During the year 1900, John A. Creighton offered means 
for the completion of the University buildings as planned by the 
founder. The additions include an extension of the south wing, 
for the accommodation of the members of the Faculty, a separate 
library building, and on the north an L shaped extension, which is 
devoted almost exclusively to the use of the students of the 
classical department. Here are located the College Chapel, the 
recitation rooms, and the lecture halls. 

Besides these buildings an auditorium, with a seating capac- 
ity of one thousand, and constructed in accordance with the best 
modern designs, has been erected at the corner of California 
Street and Twenty-fifth Avenue, while immediately north of the 
new auditorium a large heating plant supplies steam to all the 
buildings on the grounds. These additions were ready on the 
first of March, 1902. 

The new Physical Department occupies the entire east front 
of the third floor of the new north wing. 



SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 175 

The new Chemical Department occupies the entire second 
floor of the main building. 

These developments took place during the presidency of 
Father M. P. Dowling. One of his friends, well acquainted with 
his work at Creighton, writes of him thus : 

"Among the different Presidents who have guided the des- 
tinies of the University, none have left their personality, character 
and ideas more indelibly impressed on the Institution, than 
Father Dowling. He was Rector at two different times from 
1885 to 1889, and afterwards for a term beginning in 1898. He 
Was a man of action, vigorous, resolute and not easily daunted 
by difficulties or obstacles. Count Creighton had great confidence 
in his business ability and sound judgment, feeling that whatever 
money he entrusted to him would be wisely spent and that he 
would have something to show for it. This disposition accounts 
for the readiness with which he seconded several considerable 
enterprises. When Father Dowling came to Omaha in 1885, the 
only building on the ground besides the frame Chemical Labora- 
tory, was the so-called 'Main Building.' This had no corridor 
through the center, the kitchen and refectory were in the front 
part of the basement, the rest of which was used for play-room, 
boiler-room and coal-cellar. The living rooms were totally in- 
adequate and there was no privacy whatever. During this ad- 
ministration the Observatory was built ; a new wing for living 
purposes was added ; mainly through the kind interest of Mrs. 
John A. Creighton, St. John's Collegiate Church was erected; 
the house immediately in front of the college was acquired and oc- 
cupied, the hill graded down and the grounds beautified. Con- 
trary to the judgment of Mi. James Creighton, the church was 
located on California Street, instead of on the hill at the head of 
Webster Street. This resulted in coolness and alienation on 
the part of a man who had always taken a deep interest in the 
College ; but Father Dowling felt that as the church was intended 
for use, rather than as a monument, accessibility was an important 
consideration for the halt and blind and old and decrepit, who 
would want to reach the house of God. 

'Tn 1898, Father Dowling came for a second term. He had, 
meanwhile, been occupying conspicuous and responsible positions 
in Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee ; but had lost little of his well- 



1/6 SHADOW AND SUNSHINE. 

known energy. When he came the outlook was still very dark, 
but the benefactions of his old friend enabled him to put the Col- 
lege well on its feet, and to make the additions already spoken of. 
The University thus became properly equipped for its work." 

At that time Creighton was fortunate in having as Vice Pres- 
ident, Father John B. Hemann. He had been in Omaha as a 
Scholastic Professor years before and was favorably known to 
many citizens on account of his successful career as a teacher and 
especially for having given a remarkable impetus to vocal and in- 
strumental music and elocution. 

After him came Father John Kuhlman. He was a mountain 
of a man, with a mind and a heart to correspond with his physique. 
Everybody liked him, as well they might; for he was a lovable 
character, gentle, easy-going, considerate, patient and kind. He 
never believed in discipline for its own sake and was inclined oc- 
casionally to let down the bars. He would never have done in 
the early days when the strap hung conspicuously beside the office 
desk, because he found it hard to call anybody to account; yet 
somehow, he made the boys study. He was easily satisfied, when 
he saw signs of effort and improvement — and well the boys knew 
it, when they hovered around him in his office. He was father 
and mother to all of them, deeply interested in all that concerned 
them and willing to spend his time unselfishly whenever it was 
asked. Few Vice-Presidents in any college were so well equipped 
mentally for directing studies ; few so familiar with every branch 
from grammar up to philosophy, and beyond. He was master of 
the entire curriculum. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



FRIENDS AND PATRONS OF THE COLLEGE. 

A NUMBER of patrons and benefactors have already been 
mentioned in these pages. Very Httle need be added. 
Among the truest friends of the College, John A. McShane stands 
conspicuous. By his wise counsel and his financial contributions, 
he was most helpful at critical periods. His generous gifts to the 
Scientific Department, the Observatory and the Chapel, have been 
duly chronicled. He was an unfailing refuge for every President, 
a genial and warm-hearted friend. He was always close to John 
A. Creighton, who looked upon him as the natural heir of his own 
active interest in the College. 

John A. McShane, who has been prominently identified with 
many of the leading enterprises of Omaha, was born at New Lex- 
ington, Perry County, Ohio, August 25th, 1850. Until he was 
twenty-one years old, he worked upon a farm, and attended the 
country schools. In 1871 he went to Wyoming Territory where 
he found employment upon a cattle ranch. Becoming thoroughly 
acquainted with the business of cattle raising, and having saved a 
little money, he made an investment in cattle in 1873, which re- 
sulted quite profitably. The next year he came to Omaha, which 
he made his permanent home. Here he engaged in various enter- 
prises from time to time, nearly all his ventures proving success- 
ful, and demonstrating that he was a man of superior business 
talents. Meantime, his cattle interests had grown quite exten- 
sively, and in 1883 he united them with the Bay State Cattle 
Company, which at one time owned over 100,000 head of cattle 
and vast tracts of land. Mr. McShane was for a number of years 
General Manager of this company, and one of the largest stock- 
holders. His successful career, his willingness to assist every pub- 
lic undertaking and his liberal nature soon made him one of the 
most prominent and popular citizens of Omaha. He was one of the 

(177) 



178 FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 

chief promoters of the Omaha Nail Works, which for several 
years was an extensive industry here and gave employment to a 
large number of men. He was President of the Union Stock Yards 
Company, and to him largely belongs the credit of procuring the 
investment of foreign capital in the enterprise at a time when 
money was needed to secure the establishment of the immense 
packing-house plants which now furnish employment to thousands. 
In all the negotiations for the location of these industries Mr. Mc- 
Shane took a leading part. He was also a director of the South 
Omaha Land Company, President of the Union Stock Yards Bank, 
and director of the First National Bank of Omaha, In addition to 
all these duties, he had many other business affairs to engage his 
attention. He served two terms in the Nebraska State Senate, 
from 1882 to 1886. While in the State Legislature, he wielded 
great influence and shaped some of the best legislation. During 
his term the charter of Omaha was revised so that the city was 
enabled to make the public improvements which have so wonder- 
fully advanced her interests. Mr. McShane originated many 
of the best features of the new charter. The Democrats of the 
First Congressional District, nominated him for Congress in 1886, 
and he was elected over Hon, Church Howe by a majority of 
6,980, Mr, McShane was the first Democratic congressman Ne- 
braska ever had. He made an excellent record in the National 
Legislature, and in the summer of 1888, he was nominated for 
governor, but was defeated by John M. Thayer. Within the last 
decade he has confined himself almost entirely to commercial pur- 
suits. 

We are glad to associate the name of James M. Woolworth 
with Creighton College, for he was its steady and consistent 
friend. He drafted the will by which the intention of the found- 
ers was carried into effect in the establishment of the Col- 
lege, he drew up the papers for the transfer of the Trust and the 
incorporation of the Institution. Since that time he has been an 
invaluable counsellor in many emergencies — and often forgot to 
send in his bill for services rendered. He has always been noted 
for his thoroughness; when he did anything, it was well done; 
and when he undertook to do anything, you could be sure that he 
would see it through to the end. Perhaps that is why he had the 
knack of winning cases. He snatched victory from the jaws of 



FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 1 79 

defeat in several cases in which the College was deeply interested, 
as for instance the Platte County Bond Case and the Sweezy- 
Clarke foreclosure suit. When matters got tangled up, the Col- 
lege authorities always made their way promptly to Mr. Wool- 
worth's office. He was keen, cool, deliberate, wary, reliable, 
never apparently in a hurry ; but he had other qualities not usually 
associated with the idea of a lawyer ; he was charitable,, affection- 
ate, devoted, sympathetic and responsive to the least kindness. 
Few could gauge the character and worth of men better than Mr. 
Woolworth, as his choice of close friends shows : he followed 
the advice, 'The friends thou hast and their adoption tried, grapple 
them to thy soul with hooks of steel.' 

Bishop O'Connor had unlimited confidence in him and fre- 
quently employed his knowledge and tact in delicate negotiations 
of a legal nature, even between Bishop, priest and congregation. 
Mr. Woolworth used to enjoy the idea of a 'heretic' helping the 
Catholic clergy in their domestic complications. But he was al- 
ways a kindly, amiable and long-suffering 'heretic,' especially 
when John A. Creighton in a spirit of banter, pitted his title of 
Count of the Holy Roman Empire against the jurist's dignity as 
Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, and turned the 
tables by giving advice to his 'client.' It is a pleasing picture to 
recall Mr. Woolworth deeply engaged in thought, walking up and 
down his elegant and well-appointed office, around him shelves 
well laden with law-books, papers scattered on the table, the desk 
and the chair, a few temporarily, on the floor ( for his idea of neat- 
ness would not tolerate that disorder long), — his engaging smile 
when a welcome visitor entered. He was always the elegant, 
clever gentleman, with classical and scholarly tastes, a book-lover, 
an admirer of paintings, engravings, rare editions, antique lore. 
Though naturally thoughtful, reserved and dignified, with the 
instincts of an aristocrat, he had schooled himself to be a demo- 
crat in politics and accessibility. He could thoroughly enjoy a 
clever joke and well told story, and he was an interesting racon- 
teur himself. It goes without saying that he could make as neatly- 
trimmed a speech as any man in his profession, and that he could 
deliver telling blows when necessary. That was a part of his 
training and the key to his success. Creighton College regards 
him as one of its benefactors. 



l8o FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 

A clever sketch written a few years ago under the title of 
"Limnings" enables us to present to our friends in a group, four 
men who have always been very close to the College in interest and 
sympathy. For a number of years back, there has seldom been a 
time when each of them did not have several of his boys attending 
classes at Creighton : one of them had seven of his sons pass 
through to graduation and the others followed close in the race. 

"Every Nebraskan has cause to be thankful to-day. The fact 
that he lives in Nebraska is all the excuse needed for a chant of 
praise. The man who refused to make a choice between Heaven 
and Hell was a Nebraskan and he begged to be excused on the 
ground that he was well satisfied to remain in Nebraska. But if 
any set of men has reason to be more thankful than other men, 
that set is composed of John B. Furay, James H. McShane, John 
Rush and John F. Coad. That's a pretty good quartette as all 
will admit after digesting the facts which follow : 

"A few days ago, these gentlemen happened to meet, and 
being old settlers, they naturally began talking of old times in Ne- 
braska and their own experience as citizens of Omaha. 

T have lived in Nebraska for thirty years,' declared Major 
Furay, 'and while I am thankful every day in the year, I am going 
to be unusually grateful on Thanksgiving Day. My whole mar- 
ried life has been spent in Nebraska, and my wife is still with the 
living. We have raised seven sons and two daughters, all born in 
Omaha and all alive and well to-day. If that is not cause for 
thanksgiving, I don't know what is.' 

'That's right, Major,' remarked James H. McShane. 'A man 
who has raised nine children without losing one, and who is still 
enjoying the company of their mother is a lucky individual. And 
I am an almighty lucky man. My wife and I have lived in 
Omaha for more than thirty years, and, thank God, we are both 
in Nebraska yet. To us eight sons and four daughters have been 
born, making fourteen in our family, and all of us are in good 
health and spirits. If a man's thankfulness is measured by the 
amount of turkey he eats, I shall have to eat a whole flock and 
send for the doctor. Eight sons and four daughters, all born in 
Omaha, and all alive and well, is enough to make a man feel thank- 
ful, and I want to say right here that I am truly thankful.' 

"While Mr. McShane was talking, John Rush became uneasy 



FRIENDS AND PATRONS. l8l 

and once or twice attempted to break in on the flow of eloquence. 
But not until Mr. McShane had finished did Mr. Rush get in his 
work. 

'I am glad you men appreciate the blessings that have fallen 
to your lot/ said Mr. Rush, 'but I have more to be thankful for 
than either of you. My wife and I have lived in Omaha for up- 
ward of thirty years, and all of our children were born in Omaha. 
We have raised ten daughters and three sons, and all of them are 
alive and well to-day. We have fifteen members in our family 
and the only trouble is in finding a way to express my thankful- 
ness for all the blessings that have been mine during the years 
gone by.' 

"When Mr. Rush ceased talking, all eyes were turned upon 
Mr. John F. Coad. Mr. Coad was smiling the smile of a man 
who felt satisfied with himself and all the world. 

"What have you to be thankful for, Coad?" asked Major 
Furay. 

'Gentlemen,' said Mr. Coad, 'You have all expressed your 
thankfulness for mercies and blessings, and I admit that you 
have much to be thankful for. But think of what I have to 
be grateful for. Mrs. Coad and I have lived in Nebraska for up- 
wards of thirty years. All our children were born in Omaha, and 
all are aHve and well to-day. We have raised eight sons and six 
daughters. There are sixteen of us to meet and rejoice together, 
and we are going to do it. I want to tell you, friends, that in the 
matter of blessings, I am not a bit behind the rest of you, and I 
guess you'll admit that I have a shade the best of it.' 

"Major Furay was the first to break the silence that followed 
Mr. Coad's remarks. 

'I guess we have done our share in the matter of standing 
up for Nebraska,' said the major as he wiped his spectacles and 
took a fresh chew of fine-cut. 'We represent four families here. 
Four fathers, four mothers and forty-eight children, all alive and 
well. And the forty-eight children were born in Omaha, Ne- 
braska/ 

'Nebraska is a great state, Major,' said Mr. Coad. 

'Finest state in the Union, gentlemen,' exclaimed Mr. Mc- 
Shane. 



1 82 FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 

"And as Major Furay, Mr. Coad and Mr. McShane looked 
toward Mr. Rush, that gentleman arose slowly and said : 

'Friends, I am thankful that the lives of my wife and children 
have been spared to me, and I am thankful that we are Nebras- 
kans. Let us endeavor to show how thankful we are whenever 
opportunity affords.' 

"Just think of it — four families with a total membership of 
fifty-six, all alive and well ! 

"And that is in Nebraska." 

Among those who deserve special mention as benefactors 
is Michael Connolly of Burchard, Pawnee County, Nebraska, who 
left half of his modest fortune, or about $1500.00, to Creighton 
College, in 1888. This man had never seen the College, or met. 
any of its Faculty, and knew of it only by reputation as an Institu- 
tion founded for the purpose of imparting a free Catholic educa- 
tion. That determined him to make it a beneficiary, and notwith- 
standing opposition from relatives, his will was ultimately car- 
ried out. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



A TRANSITION PERIOD. 

MY connection with Creighton University," says a former 
professor, "began in August, 1899, and continued until 
July, 1901. During this period of two scholastic years, my time 
and attention were divided between the regular branches of the 
Sophomore Class, and an effort to give Creighton honorable 
representation in the field of College Athletics. 

"My first impression of life in Omaha was very pleasant ; ac- 
customed as I had been to a large community, I found in the little 
religious family at Omaha an agreeable change. Then too, there 
was a charming homelike spirit about Creighton that compensated 
for the lack of such entertainment as Ours can enjoy elsewhere. 
Everybody seemed interested in his work and everybody had a 
kind word of encouragement for his brother. I have pleasant 
recollections of sound advice and helpful suggestions received on 
more than one occasion when difficulties incidental to the work of 
reviving interest in athletics rendered the outlook unpromising. 
Yet the disposition to give good advice never took on the appear- 
ance of meddling. When one was appointed to an office he was 
allowed to make it his own work, and in consequence he was 
prompted to call upon his own resources — to put individuality 
into it. At the same time, however, there was consolation in the 
knowledge that he would be supported, that far from being de- 
terred from taking a step forward he would be encouraged if it 
were for the good of the University. One might perhaps refer 
to this time as the transition period in Creighton's history. In 
my imagination there still remain some lively phantasms, relics of 
strong sensations experienced in the lower story of what is now 
the Main Building. A new and modern system of plumbing was 
introduced which effected a real transformation. I remember too 
how during the noon hour the students used to sit on benches 

(183) 



1 84 A TRANSITION PERIOD. 

around the wall of the play-room munching their luncheon, and 
how much more pleasant and comfortable it was for them after- 
wards, when they were grouped about the tables in the special 
room provided for them in the course of that year. I wonder what 
some of the old Prefects of the early '90's would have thought if 
they had entered that room during the retreat of 1901, when stu- 
dents, while taking their luncheon, listened to selections from a 
well-written spiritual book! I shall never forget the patriotic 
hand-ball alley on which the national banner was painted, nor the 
observatory decorated in the same national colors. Then one day 
there came the great change. The graders put in an appearance. 
Down went the old back-stop with its Homeric legend, down came 
the uprights for the horizontal bar and the poles for the swings — 
and the old campus was put out of commission, to be replaced 
afterwards by your 'best in the province' which I saw only in 
fieri." 

"The library," it has well been said, "is the brain of the Uni- 
versity." One of the aims of College and University training, 
is the development of a taste for good reading that may ac- 
company the student through life. Nothing was left undone to 
fit up a complete library and comfortable and attractive reading 
room. 

Another former professor writes thus of the development of 
this department : "Leaving its more recent history to those who 
have brought these factors in College life to their present high 
standard, I shall say a few words about the changes that began in 
a small way in April, 1899. At that time the students' portion of 
the library consisted of about one thousand volumes which filled 
one case standing in the rear of what was then the Poetry Class 
room. This was scant courtesy for so important a feature of Col- 
lege equipment. But want of space had necessitated that arrange- 
ment. Such a thing as a reading room did not exist, even in name. 
There was little or no current literature accessible. This defic- 
iency was, to my mind, one of the most notable defects at Creigh- 
ton. Its effects were evident on the training of the students, of 
whom the professors complained, on account of the little reading 
they had done or were doing. Besides this, there was not a place 
to which they could go during noon hour and free time for study 
or private work. The more diligent took their books down to the 



A TRANSITION PERIOD. 185 

lunch-room and play-room. But the place was at that time neither 
inviting, nor conducive to study. Under a happy inspiration, a 
vacant room was soon found. Suitable furniture was purchased, 
pictiires and other decorations were arranged, magazines and pa- 
pers procured, and, in less than a week, there was a cozy little 
apartment that very much delighted the boys, who showed their 
appreciation by proceeding without delay to make good use of it. 
This transaction small and unimportant in itself, derives some 
noteworthiness from the fact that it was the first manifestation 
of new life and vigor after the hard times. 

''The next step in this particular department was to enlarge 
the library. There were no funds and no provision had been 
made in the foundation. The President was so much pleased with 
the new improvements, so desirous of seeing them continue and so 
confident of the Library Association's ability to support itself, 
that he agreed to advance funds until money could be raised by 
donations, plays or entertainments. This manifestation of con- 
fidence in the integrity and enterprise of the boys impressed them 
very favorably. Before the first play was given, under the aus- 
pices of the new association, a debt of several hundred dollars had 
been incurred. The boys knew that, and when tickets were placed 
in their hands for sale they proceeded to demonstrate that they 
were worthy of all the backing they had received. As a conse- 
quence, all previous records in the number of tickets sold for a 
play, were far surpassed. Debts were paid and there was a large 
surplus for the purchase of more books ; in this way over one 
thousand volumes were added to the library in two years. To se- 
cure this increase there was displayed a degree of unselfishness, 
public-spiritedness, and devotion to the success of the enterprise 
seldom witnessed in college boys. Looking back upon those events 
which were only side issues in college life, I can read an instruc- 
tive lesson. The efforts of the Faculty to provide better facilities 
for the boys, the trust reposed in them, and the placing upon them 
a slight responsibility — all these elicited an altogether new man- 
ifestation of gratitude, generosity and enterprise." 

When Father M. I. Stritch became Librarian in 1902, and 
found how incomplete many of the Departments of the Library 
were, he generously resolved to devote himself to the work of en- 
largement and improvement. His solid learning, his extensive 



l86 A TRANSITION PERIOD. 

knowledge of books, and his correct appreciation of what was 
most needed and useful fitted him for the task. In the accom- 
plishment of his object, he spared neither time nor labor ; and if 
the University can now boast practically a new library, contain- 
ing most of the latest and best products of the press, the credit is 
mainly due to Father Stritch. 

In the interest of the circulating department it occurred to 
him to call the attention of some well known friends of the Uni- 
versity to our needs in this line, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cudahy 
were first appealed to. They have always cheerfully aided in 
any enterprise in which the students have been engaged. It was 
felt that their intelligence and their interest in educational mat- 
ters would win their patronage, especially for the library. The 
confidence of Faculty and students suffered no disappointment. 
Mr. Cudahy responded immediately by offering a check for One 
Thousand Dollars — all that was asked. The mianner of the giv- 
ing was even more than the gift. Mr. and Mrs. Cudahy said 
that it gave them great pleasure to contribute something toward 
the success of the cause in which Creighton University is engaged 
and to be admitted to a share in the splendid work which their 
friend, Mr. John A. Creighton, is so generously carrying on. 
But those who know the Cudahy family in a friendly way, or 
those whose privilege it has been to visit them at their palatial 
home, will not be surprised at this instance of liberality and 
graciousness. 

Mr. Edward Hayden and wife, also helped with a similar 
donation. Hon. James M. Woolworth contributed $250.00 and 
other benefactors lesser sums. The Faculty and students were 
highly gratified to number Dr. and Mrs. Coffman, Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles H. Creighton and Mrs, B, Gallagher as other benefactors 
of their library. The prominent place they all hold in the esteem 
of the people of Omaha, renders any account of them unneces- 
sary. 



^=^^^=^^==Mi-h'^^ 




CHAPTER XXVI. 



COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER OF STUDENTS. 

ON this subject, a keen observer remarks : "When I first ar- 
rived at Creighton in 1898, there was a notable absence of 
anything like a college spirit. The boys seemed to be devoid of 
interest in the place, to say nothing of enthusiasm. They were 
studious enough, but as soon as class was dismissed, they de- 
camped like workmen glad to get away from the scene of hard 
toil. At first I blamed them for such a lack of appreciation and 
attachment to the college. But a little time and observation con- 
vinced me that they were not altogether to blame. There was a 
certain atmosphere about the place that was chilling and depress- 
ing. If it was not actually repelling, it certainly was not attract- 
ive. Whence it came, I know not. Probably it arose from a com- 
bination of circumstances of which hard times were the chief in- 
gredient. In course of time new associations were organized for 
the study and practice of oratory, music classes and glee clubs 
were instituted as a means of culture and refinement and, to add 
to the pleasure of College entertainments, a library and reading 
room association became a formal and permanent organization. 
As an encouragement to healthful and legitimate exercise and 
sport, athletic clubs were formed. I do not mean to say that none 
of these societies had ever before existed at Creighton ; but there 
certainly was a dearth of them at that particular period. To up- 
hold the honor of the College, whether on the campus or in intel- 
lectual strife, became the great ambition. A filial pride in Alma 
Mater had been aroused and when her reputation was at stake 
the very best endeavors were put forth to defend it. The most 
striking proof of this spirit was manifested when Creighton sent 
its first representative to the annual contest of the Nebraska Ora- 
torical Association. This event gave a new impetus to oratory. The 
idea of competing with other Institutions was like a call to arms. 

(187) 



1 88 COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. 

More painstaking work was done than ever before. The regular 
meetings of the local association were better attended, opportuni- 
ties to debate and speak were eagerly embraced for the advance- 
ment and improvement to be derived. The intelHgence, maturity 
and manly vigor with which subjects of national importance were 
discussed in the weekly sessions were remarkable. In due time 
Creighton sent forth her first representative orator with a delega- 
tion of enthusiastic supporters. They returned a sadder but a 
much wiser crowd than they went forth. It was their first experi- 
ence, and it afforded more practical education than months in the 
class-room. They declared that they had never dreamed that peo- 
ple were so narrow and bigoted, so ignorant of the Truth. In 
spite of defeat and disappointment, their devotion did not grow 
less, esteem^ and appreciation of all that was being done to train 
and educate them were enhanced many fold. But so indignant 
were they at the alleged unfair treatment, that immediate with- 
drawal from the State Association was generally advocated. This 
step would certainly have been taken had not the Rector used his 
persuasive powers to convince them that it would be a wiser, as 
well as a more manly policy, to stay in. They resolved to adopt 
that course cf action and with what happy results will appear 
elsewhere. It seemed to me at the time that the lesson taught the 
boys by that whole transaction, was of the very highest import- 
ance. It showed them what to expect from a world ignorant of 
their religion. Afterwards, as Catholic laymen, they will know 
how to meet and overcome such opjjosition ; at least, they will not 
be terrified by it and inclined to run away and hide." 

This is how a student at the close of his course, saw the 
College spirit developed. "Well do I remember the state of my 
feelings when I entered the Preparatory or Academic Department. 
This was one of the events of my early life. At last, I was an 
actual student of a University, of that lopped-winged College 
upon the hill, where it was reputed that stern, inflexible, severe 
professors taught, and where students were obliged to spend their 
days in memorizing Latin and their nights in deciphering Greek. 
A short acquaintance taught me that their dress and learning 
did not make these professors so terrible, in fact that they were the 
kindest and most jovial of men ; and to-day I have among them 
some of the strongest and surely the truest friends of my life. 



COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. 1 89 

One cannot overestimate the value of these friendships between 
professor and pupil. To the counsel and advice of my teachers, 
I attach as much importance as to any study of my course. 

"How proud we fellows were at first as we carried our Latin 
and Greek grammars and dictionaries around with us — the title 
plainly in view, that acquaintances and passers-by might form a 
proper estimate of our intellectual calibre. All too soon, the 
novelty wore off, and I fear it was Father John B. DeShryver, 
irreverently called by us the 'Count,' on account of his courtly 
manners, — I fear it was the Count and his celebrated jug — a 
special class session for delinquents — that induced us to study 
more than we wished, to master the tongues of Cicero and De- 
mosthenes. The work in the Academic classes is admittedly dry 
to the average boy. Here, he must lay the foundation so essen- 
tial for a liberal education ; but, in general, the youth does not 
understand or appreciate the purpose of this continual drilling. 
Yet, when he sees at a desk beside him, a man who has, perhaps, 
voted at a presidential election or two, one who bears scars from 
the battle of life, who having made and saved some money, is 
able, at last to come to school, who has started at the very bottom 
in order that he may obtain an education which contact with the 
world had taught him is so valuable, and which, he has learned, 
renders a man so superior to his fellows — when the young stu- 
dent sees these examples (and we see them daily at Creighton), 
he becomes more satisfied with his studies and, for the first time, 
begins to appreciate the worth of an education. 

"Happily, other studies and side issues helped to relieve the 
monotony of the course. There were elocution classes and con- 
tests, dramatic performances, debating and literary societies where 
heated debates and parliamentary quarrels are entered into 
with more spirit than is displayed on the floor of Congress. The 
value of these societies is measureless. What a transformation 
they work in the young collegian! On his first assignment, the 
trembling of his knees, the quavering of his voice, the blankness 
of his memory, the stubborn silence of his tongue, the awkward- 
ness of his hands and feet excite mingled sympathy and laughter. 
How the beginner envies his fellow-student who talks with ease 
and fluency on any subject ! Yet after a few months' practice 
and patience, this beginner will hardly know himself. He has 



I90 COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. 

acquired the art of expressing himself, if not eloquently, at all 
events clearly. This accomplishment will serve him in any cir- 
cumstance of life. Who will believe that you are educated if you 
cannot express your ideas ? 

"One of the most pronounced advances during my college 
years was the development of an esprit de corps among the stu- 
dents. When I began, such a thing as college spirit with the mani- 
fold changes it works in the life of a school, was utterly unknown. 
Pupils took no special interest in the institution ; they were good 
students, did their tasks faithfully, ranked high in their classes, 
but all the while the majority of them regarded their course as 
a necessary evil, a temporary imprisonment, and as soon as the 
school hours were over, they would rush away from the college 
and grounds as though these were a place of infection. The at- 
mosphere which surrounds college and university life was en- 
tirely absent. Certain individual students would strive to instil 
a college spirit, but would give up the task in despair. Interest in 
Creighton's welfare, if felt, was not in evidence ; and such a thing 
as college songs, college yells, the display of colors, class and 
social organizations, were as foreign to us as the quadrangles 
of Oxford or Cambridge. 

"So, the old student who visits Creighton now is as much 
surprised at the inner change as at the outer aspect of his Alma 
Mater. On the campus he sees hardy athletes diligently train- 
ing that they may uphold the blue and white. He sees student 
managers painstakingly arranging schedules and laboring for 
financial success as assiduously as they would in a personal en- 
terprise. He goes into the library and there he sees a corps of 
student-librarians cataloguing or distributing books. In the 
reading room he sees student-censors and he witnesses with sur- 
prise an older collegian caution a young one whose exuberant 
spirits have led him to violate some rule. Around the city he 
sees students selling tickets to some of their benefit performances 
or convincing some merchant to advertise his wares in this or 
that college programme or publication. Such is the interest 
manifested by the students of to-day." 

The average Creighton student is good material to work 
upon; for though "many of them," says an observer already 
quoted, "grew up in their prairie homes, they were keenly alive to 



COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. I91 

the value of an education and determined to have it. Hence, 
earnestness was their most predominant trait. They were not 
distracted by the frivohties of the world nor. weakened by its 
vices. Work did not deter nor frighten them. They had learned 
the value of patient toil and dogged perseverance in the best of 
schools. This sterling quality made them desirable students ; 
and their ready response to the demands and efforts of the Pro- 
fessors, their docility, candor and piety made them a consolation 
to the faculty. After comparing notes with those who taught 
elsewhere, I am convinced that nowhere will a Professor meet 
harder students, receive more considerate treatment or behold more 
consoling results of his labors than in Omaha." 

Another Professor with good opportunities for forming a 
correct judgment confirms this estimate. "It seemed to me to be 
very easy to introduce any custom among the Omaha boys. They 
are docile and quick to respond to the wishes of authority — at 
least that was my experience. Were I asked to describe the stu- 
dent of Creighton, I would beg for time to do him justice. I 
found him tractable, respectful, considerate, earnest and diligent 
in his studies, energetic — with a good deal of push, self-reliance 
and general business-like qualities, able to give a good account 
of himself in any contest whether literary or athletic — in a word 
manly. If, in comparison with students of our other colleges, he 
be lacking in intellectual or artistic refinement, or what is com- 
monly called culture (which I do not assert), he makes up for 
this in maturity of judgment and sound, good sense." 

Another former professor fills in these lines: "The boys 
never impressed me as being what you could call bright. They 
worked hard — they had to — and deserved promotion at the end of 
the year. During my three years I never came across an intellect 
that, on close inspection, would make me blink or my eyes water. 
I was most favorably impressed by those who came from the inter- 
ior of Nebraska and Iowa. They were all solid, earnest men. They 
came for an education and they certainly worked faithfully to 
get it. As a rule, they set the pace for the native Omahan. So 
devoted were these students to their books that it was almost im- 
possible to induce them to give a modicum of time to athletics. 
As soon as classes were dismissed they would leave the college and 
go to their boarding-houses. There was plenty of material 



192 



COLLEGE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. 



among them for foot-ball teams — ^but they could not be induced 
to play. The difficulty was not confined to lack of interest on the 
part of the students, there was positive and vigorous opposition 
from the Faculty. Our genial Vice-President had set his heart 
on the suppression of rough games and the introduction of ca- 
dets. Having been a soldier himself, a magnificent specimen 
too, it was natural that he should show partiality to his old call- 
ing. I believe that he got his cue from St. Louis, where a bat- 
talion had lately been established. Well, the students did not 
take to the idea with enthusiasm and so the cadets just about 
dragged along. Whatever enthusiasm was alive was manifested 
by the most unsoldierly set in the Institution. These worthy 
sons of Mars were always on hand for the drill and always out 
of step and order. The Reverend Commandant could not retire 
them, and they declined a generous furlough." 



Things Eternal. 




Non est mortale quod opto. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

NUMEROUS societies have been formed from time to time 
to meet the varying needs of Collegiate life. Little can be 
done but enumerate them, giving the date of their organization 
and their purpose, when the latter is not clear from the name 
given them. 

A. For Religious Culture. 

1. Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, 1878. To cultivate the 
religious spirit and the practice of devotion to the Mother of 
God. 

2. Apostleship of Prayer and League of the Sacred Heart, 
1879. To encourage devotion to the Sacred Heart and the spirit 
of zeal. 

3. Acolythical Society, 1884. To add solemnity to Divine 
Worship and afford deserving students the honor of serving in 
the sanctuary. 

B. For Oratorical Culture. 

I. The Creighton Oratorical Association, 1884. For Uni- 
versity students. 

2.. The Creighton Literary Society, 1899. For students of 
the Academic Department. 

C. For Literary Culture. 

1. Students' Library Association, 1880. 

2. Students' Reading Room Association, 1891. 

D. For Scientific Culture. 

1. The Chemical Circle, 1885. To promote facility in ex- 
perimenting and lecturing on Chemical subjects. 

2. The Scientific Circle, 1886. To acquire ease in handling 
physical apparatus and facility in dealing with scientific subjects. 

(193) 



194 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

E. For Dramatic Culture. 

I. The Creighton Dramatic Circle, 1899. To promote the 
study of Dramatic Literature and the production of plays. 

F. For Musical Culture. 

1. The Cecilian Society, 1885. Vocal music for religious 
celebrations. 

2. University Glee Club, 1833. Vocal music for collegiate 
and secular purposes. 

3. Mandolin Orchestra, 1899. 

G. For Physical Culture. 

1. Game Room Association, 1885. For indoor sports. 

2. University Athletic Association, 1899. 

3. Edward Creighton Guards, 1887. Mostly ex-students. 
Organization short-lived. 

4. University Cadets, 1893. Soon disbanded. 

H. Other organizations. Alumni Association, 1892. 

Religious Associations naturally claim our first attention. 
One of the Directors wrote: "It was always very pleasant to 
work among the boys of Creighton College, at least among the 
higher classes, to which my experience was chiefly confined. 
They were, as a rule, pretty well on in years, from 18 to 25 or 
thereabouts, mature and steady in character, very studious and 
eager to learn, uncommonly pious, well-mannered and very res- 
pectful. Many were weekly communicants, and the Sodality 
was held in honor among them. They were especially devout 
daring the Month of May, and contributed without stint to the 
decoration of Our Lady's Altar in St. John's Church (which was 
their Chapel) and kept it very beautiful — though other people of 
the congregation also made offerings. A notable celebration by 
the College Sodalities was that of the Tercentenary of St. Aloys- 
ius. A preparatory triduum was preached by Father Kokenge, 
who came up from St. Louis for the purpose. On the morning 
of the Feast, which fortunately fell on Sunday, St, John's was 
packed to the doors with the boys of the Sodalities and other 
young people (their elders being excluded on this occasion), at 
the seven o'clock Mass, said by the Rector. A feature was the 
presence of nearly 100 young men, many of them old college stu- 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 1 95 

dents, who wore white silk badges. They occupied the epistle 
side of the main aisle, and together with the boys and all the 
other young folks, received Holy Communion. Beautiful music 
was furnished by a select choir under the direction of Mr. John 
Schenk, including his now famous niece, Miss Mary Munchoff." 

The influence of the Sodality and Acolythical Society is well 
t)rought out by Mr. Thomas J. Smith: 'T belonged to many 
societies during my course at College, and from them I derived 
many advantages. The first that I entered had the most lasting 
and salutary effect upon me. It was the Sodality of the Blessed 
Virgin. We used to assemble in the old College Chapel (the 
Church was not yst built), to recite the Little Office and listen to 
the instructions of our Director. I think that these had a power- 
ful influence on the formation of our lives. We considered it an 
honor to be a member of the Sodality, for we were in some way 
made to realize that we were special friends of the Blessed Vir- 
gin. One of the first instances that now comes to my mind, is 
the happy death of a sodalist. Eugene Noon was a student of 
one of the higher classes, and was universally esteemed. The 
College Records tell of his brilliant career in his classes, they 
may speak of his piety, but they can scarcely describe the deep 
and lasting impression which the example of his life made upon 
those who frequently met and conversed with him. He has ever 
Tjeen my ideal of a college student. To manifest their regard for 
him he was awarded, by the almost unanimous vote of professors 
and students, a gold medal for excellent deportment, a prize 
offered but once during my course at college. After a short ill- 
ness, he died, regretted by all that knew him. We learned the 
circumstances of his edifying death from a short discourse which 
our Director gave us, when we were assembled to recite the cus- 
tomary prayers for the repose of the soul. 

"Who, that has had the privilege of serving Mass, ever fails 
to look back to that period of his life with a kind of reverence 
and pious affection? I have often noticed how men, years after 
they have left College, take a special delight in speaking about 
the days when they served Mass in their old College Chapel. 
Next to the Sodality, I think the Acolythical Society has the 
most salutary effect upon a boy's career at College. Many there 
are who trace back to this Association, the beginning of their vo- 



196 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

cation. Well do I remember when Mr. Donoher invited several 
of us to attend a meeting in the old Third Academic Class Room. 
We assisted at the last public services in the College Chapel, we had 
the honor of being present at the laying of the corner-stone, and 
a short time after, at the solemn dedication of St. John's Church. 
I have known many to come from the furthermost limits of Om- 
aha, from South Omaha, and Council Bluffs, to assist at the Holy 
Week Services. Protestants, as well as Catholics, always favor- 
ably commented upon them. But what struck me was the unusual 
splendor which characterized the devotion of the Forty Hours, 
the celebration of the feast of the Sacred Heart, and the Annual 
Renewal of the Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin at the 
close of the month of May. 

"Father Jos. Rigge had a great reputation both within the 
College and about the city. The extraordinary rapidity with 
which the devotion of the Sacred Heart spread among the Col- 
lege students and the congregation of St. John's, was, in a great 
measure, due to his zeal and untiring efforts. He was not con- 
tent with merely making this devotion known ; he labored in- 
cessantly, both in his private conversation and public instructions, 
to inspire all, promoters and members, with the genuine spirit of 
the devotion. Perhaps the following incident would not please 
the good Father if he happened to read it ; but I will narrate it 
as a proof of his own great faith in the merits of the Sacred 
Heart. He had been endeavoring to convert a criminal who had 
been sentenced to death. For several weeks all his efforts were 
in vain. The condemned man refused to listen to any conversa- 
tion even bordering on the pious. In fact, about a week before 
the fatal day, he said he did not wish to have the subject of re- 
ligion mentioned any more. Recalling the divine promise re- 
garding the gift of touching the hardest hearts. Father Rigge 
offered up his Mass on the following morning for the unfortu- 
nate man. His prayer was heard. At his very next visit to the 
jail the prisoner met him, and was only too glad to make his con- 
fession. On the day of the execution he received Holy Commun- 
ion from the hand of his benefactor, showing evident signs of 
repentance. Moreover, he was ready to make a public confession 
of his crime and beg pardon of those whom he had injured. The 
whole city was acquainted with these facts, but only Father 
Rigge knew the true cause of them." 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



ATHLETICS. 



THE place to be given to athletics in college, has long been 
the subject of warm discussion. Some College authorities 
would banish them entirely, or at most, tolerate them in a limited 
degree ; others encourage them and thereby endeavor to direct 
and control the inevitable exuberance of youthful energy and 
animal spirits. At Creighton, athletics have passed through all 
possible stages from absolute neglect to active encouragement. To 
some extent, we have already anticipated this subject. In our 
Chapter on the '8o's some idea is given of the tribulations of 
the budding athlete of that period, but an interesting supplement 
to that story is furnished by the reminiscences of John B. Furay 
who entered College the first day it opened. 

"Immediately after our return to school in September, we 
did not begin to prepare for the coming foot-ball season as is 
the custom nowadays; but baseball held the field until the be- 
ginning of November. And even when the football season did 
open, the game was so different from that of to-day, and so tame 
and unscientific in comparison, that your boys could hardly real- 
ize that we were very much interested in it. At that time, none 
of us had ever heard the names 'Fullback,' 'Tackle,' or 'Guard' 
and none had ever seen a player arrayed in his football gear. 
The Rugby game had not as yet come west. We resorted to the 
very primitive method of dividing the boys into two permanent 
sides for all the games of the season. The game itself consisted 
in advancing the ball by kicking or punting until a goal was 
made; but 'Scrimmages' and 'Running with interference' were 
unknown. 

"During the winter months there were few outside sports. 
Once or twice, the yard was flooded and a skating rink 
formed that served to keep the boys interested for a few weeks. 

(197) 



198 ATHLETICS, 

Some used to spend part of the noon recess and their free time 
after classes in coasting, for which sport the steep, ungraded city 
hills offered a rare opportunity. Indoor attractions were few; we 
had no gymnasium, at least as it is understood nowadays, though 
we did have some boxing gloves, a shuffle-table, a few pairs of 
Indian clubs, and several games, principally checkers, chess and 
back-gammon. These were the property of the Game Room As- 
sociation. Preparations for the baseball season went on much 
as they do at present; even though the games were unimportant 
when compared with your recent contests, they possessed for us 
just as much interest. 

"The College was not in those days the force in the commun- 
ity that it has since become. It had few old students in business 
in the city, and the active students of the College rarely came 
before the public. There were no plays, no debates, no oratorical 
contests, even the elocution contests were all held in private. Ex- 
cepting Commencement night, the only time that the students 
made their appearance before the public was when they gave sci- 
entific lectures." 

A later authority takes up another aspect of the subject. 
"It is not necessary to speak of College Athletics as they now 
exist; others better qualified give an account of their inception 
and development and of the records made. A few words about 
their influences on College Spirit. During my first year, nothing 
was done in this line. Football was tabooed and but scant en- 
couragement given to sports of any kind. To this fact was 
due in no small degree, the absence of interest, enthusiasm and 
unity among the boys. But as soon as teams were organized and 
games scheduled, they began to feel a new attraction to the place. 
The whole crowd got close together; there was a common desire 
to see the teams victorious, everybody yelled for Creighton, re- 
joiced at its victories and grieved at its defeats. The splendid 
college spirit that now exists is due to athletics perhaps more 
than to any other one influence. An account of their recent de- 
velopment at Creighton and their good influences upon the whole 
student body, will go far towards vindicating the policy that en- 
courages and keeps them under proper control. Thus the recog- 
nition of athletics as necessary and useful departments of col- 
lege life will become a matter of record. 



ATHLETICS. 1 99 

"To show the trustworthiness of the boys, I shall mention 
the discontinuance of the practice of having a Prefect during 
the noon hour. It had been the custom for one man to take an 
early dinner and then act as Prefect during the community din- 
ner. It was finally decided to try the plan of leaving the boys to 
take care of themselves during that time. It succeeded so well 
that it was not found necessary to restore the former arrange- 
ment. When the boys were put on their honor, they never as a 
crozvd, failed to conduct themselves properly. The delegations 
that went to the oratorical contests were unaccompanied by any 
member of the Faculty, The reports that came afterwards, gave 
testimony to their excellent deportment ; for instance, a letter 
from the Pastor at Grand Island in which he said, in substance, 
that Creighton could have no better advertisement than the dele- 
gation that attended the contest there. In their tours the foot- 
ball and base-ball teams had no Prefect; still anything like dis- 
creditable conduct was never heard of. College life furnishes 
no better test of character than such trips in which occasions and 
temptations are never wanting. 

"The soldiers stationed in the vicinity of Omaha were al- 
ways very friendly and were at all times very anxious to arrange 
games. In the Spring of '96, the Creighton boys, after paying 
their hotel bill, were practically driven from an interior town, 
because they had the misfortune to win the game. The soldiers 
hearing of this, arranged a game with the team of the offending 
town, went out forty strong and took possession of the place as 
well as of the game. They all put up at the hotel at the expense 
of the home team, to repay them, they said, for the treatment re- 
ceived by the Creighton lads." 

Coming down almost to our own times, we find that in the 
short period of three years, wonderful progress was made. 
Within that time, the difficulties invariably arising from the in- 
auguration of high grade athletics, were overcome with compar- 
ative ease ; rough material was moulded into star athletes ; doubt- 
ful patronage was succeeded by intense college spirit, and earnest 
support from without; desirable games were regularly scheduled 
and finally Creighton became a recognized factor in the field of 
inter-collegiate sport in the West. No doubt the athletic equip- 
ment and gymnasium facilities provided, such as baths, dressing 



200 ATHLETICS, 

rooms, lockers, as well as a first-class gridiron and a large in- 
door baseball cage, contributed largely to these results; but the 
development of the University in all other directions, seemed to 
demand activity in this and the attitude of the college authorities 
made it possible. 

The President of the University gave his views on this sub- 
ject in an article contributed to a magazine at that time. In his 
opinion, athletics, within reasonable restrictions, are calculated 
to meet the wants of the living age, which requires a sound mind 
in a sound body. Parents want athletics and their children want 
them. If sports are sometimes accompanied by danger and re- 
sult in broken limbs, let those who want them take the chances 
and be responsible for the results. It is trying enough to divide 
with parents their responsibility with regard to intellectual and 
moral requirements, without undertaking to be father, mother, 
aunt, uncle and all the rest of kin to "Tommy," when, with some 
risk, he insists on developing his muscles. Often enough we 
are compelled to go against the stream in opposing many educa- 
tional theories and practices, because there is some principle at 
stake ; but when no principle is involved, I believe it is wise to do 
as other colleges do. If people want an education which includes 
physical culture, give them what they want and they will send 
their children to you. 

Standing opposed to any form of systematic physical cul- 
ture are those who would be content to see boys hatchet-faced, 
thin-blooded, scrawny, with spindle shanks, flat chests, narrow 
shoulders, soft muscles, weak arms and a lack of physical cour- 
age. All the objections urged merely prove that while athletics 
are good servants they are bad masters. They are all right as 
long as they do not interfere with study. But they do interfere 
with study, say the objectors, and, more than that, 
valuable time is squandered and what some denominate noble 
games might more properly be called brutal sport. Every one 
will admit that athletics are sometimes cultivated to excess, 
that they sometimes interfere with serious study; and that 
the safe return of college athletes from the field of prowess is 
often hailed with a devout "Te Deum," as if another danger 
were passed and their friends were free to breathe once more. 
But we must remember, too, that the best athletes are often the 



ATHLETICS. 201 

best students ; backward young men can be barred out by proper 
authority and the time lost affects comparatively few, while the 
healthy college spirit engendered, the enthusiasm for excellence 
aroused, more than counter-balance these disadvantages. Recre- 
ation need not consist in lounging about door-ways, moping 
through corridors, creeping along from place to place ; something 
virile ought to be aimed at, the development of a manly spirit. 
Where is this to be acquired ; in the class room ? It is a mistake 
to suppose that men learn only from those appointed to teach 
them ; there is a great deal of useful education to be had from 
mixing with college companions, and character is developed 
on the gridiron and the diamond, on the campus and athletic field 
as well as the class-room. The educational results of athletics 
are numerous enough to be overwhelming. The self-denial re- 
quired in training promotes discipline; the struggle for suprem- 
acy prepares one to take the hard knocks the world will subse- 
quently give ; the moderation and submission required in accept- 
ing adverse decisions teach self-control in trying circumstances 
and under strong provocation ; the tense engagement of mind 
and muscle leaves little place for lewd conversation, drinking 
habits, and the malignant influence of troublesome coteries. 
These advantages flow especially from games played in combi- 
nation, where there is question of courage as well as skill, 
where, the individual player being of less importance, each one 
learns the necessity of organization, the art of playing together 
and the need of sacrificing his athletic reputation in a critical 
emergency, for the common good. The disposition rather to 
lose a game than win it unfairly is the natural outgrowth of 
honorable competition. There is undoubted generalship in many 
of these games and a practical lesson in administration. Quick- 
ness is needed, decision, courage, determination to win, ability 
to give and take. These qualities are all of the highest moment 
for success in the battle of life. 



The Spoketsi Word Opens the Heart. 




Tantum opus est verbo. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 

IT is difficult to speak of Dramatics without taking up Elo- 
cution and Oratory ; for these three became popular about 
the same time, and were so closely related in their effects upon 
the students, as to be inseparable in treatment. Up to 1893,. 
Dramatics were an up-hill work. Talent was scarce. The Rector 
would not hear of a play for that reason. One of the professors 
thought him mistaken in his judgment; but after putting an 
enormous amount of work into a play in order to reach any suc- 
cess whatever, he became convinced that the Rector was right. 

Elocution classes were opened in the University the first year 
of its establishment. Though not so much attention was paid 
to them as to other branches of study, yet there was an attrac- 
tion about them which won the heart of the Omaha student. In 
the course of a few years, elocution was no mean factor in the 
boy's College career. He felt the desire of appearing in public, 
and realized the benefits it brought him. From this time, public 
contests in elocution were held annually, and though, from time 
to time dialogues and at intervals scenes from dramas and trag- 
edies were presented, it took fifteen years from the humble be- 
ginning before an entire play was enacted. 

It was in May, 1894, that the first dramatic production took 
place. The play chosen was "Elma," a tragedy of the Druid 
days ; and so well was it received by the people, that, at their re- 
quest, the play was reproduced in Boyd's Theatre, at the close 
of the Collegiate year. 

Many a former student recalls those happy days of earnest 
endeavor and vaulting desire. And, when he now returns for a 
visit to the College, and once again sees the old hall and gazes 
upon the narrow stage and tortuous exits, a smile plays upon his 
lips at the thought of how serious it all was ; and how he looked 

(203) 



204 ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 

upon the enactment of his part as a most engrossmg question; 
how it absorbed all his young thoughts and energy; how he lay 
awake at night, restless with the ambitious conviction that he 
was to win great honors in his role on the night of the perform- 
ance. Yet, a deep interior consciousness forces the belief that in 
those days, upon that cramped little stage, he laid the foundation 
which served him admirably in after life. 

The following narration shows that at least one former stu- 
dent should have a warm appreciation of what elocution did for 
him. 

"I have in mind a young man who, I doubt not, will look 
with grateful memory upon the Elocution Class as the most 
profitable of all the branches taught. Not that he attained the 
summit of oratorical or dramatic perfection, or even surpassed 
his fellow students in any marked degree, but for this alone, that 
his Faith was strengthened, and he was brought from the verge 
of unbelief to be a staunch and earnest Catholic. The reform 
came about through a piece of elocution which brought out in a 
simple way, the existence of God in the beauties of the uni- 
verse. The Professor had given it to be committed to 
memory for the weekly drill. Overpowered by the thoughts and 
arguments set forth in the selection, the student was thoroughly 
convinced of the existence and manifestation of Nature's God. 
By this thought, breathed, as it were, from so pure an atmos- 
phere, another soul, sick unto death was resuscitated, to praise 
the Power that had brought about so profitable a change. The 
kindness, the interest, and the self-sacrifice of the teachers also 
left imperishable memories. As an instance of this, I could men- 
tion a promising young man of to-day whom, as a student, I 
knew to be discouraged, uninterested in his work, and, in a word, 
merely 'dragging along' with his class. It so happened that 
the teacher took occasion, in the early part of the school year, to 
compliment him on an effort he had evidently made to prepare 
his lessons. Furthermore, by word and deed the Professor 
showed him that he had considerable undeveloped talent, that a 
little patience and good will, added to his earnest endeavor, would 
eventually result in well developed faculties before the close of 
his College career. The word of kindness had its effect. The 
student took courage; and, with the consciousness that he had 



ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 205 

some one very much interested in his success, he became perse- 
vering and studious, graduated with honors, and has never lost 
the impetus due to the encouragement received on that occa- 
sion," 

There is, perhaps, no section of the educational world in 
which the art of oratory is more earnestly and successfully culti- 
vated, than in our western colleges. Each of them has debating 
and oratorical societies. History shows that eloquence finds its 
natural home among a free-spirited people under a popular gov- 
ernment. Love of high eloquence is with us a growth of the soil, 
a plant of the environment. In the next chapter we shall have oc- 
casion to speak more fully of the "Oratorical Association." We 
regret that space does not permit a well-merited commendation 
of Weir D. Coffman, President of the Nebraska State Oratorical 
Association, while he was a member of the Senior Class, and 
James E. Woodard, Creighton's successful representative in 
1902. An appreciative notice and a biographical sketch of each 
is given in "The Creightonian" of the same year. "After the 
Creighton Oratorical Association was admitted into the State 
Association, the interest in public speaking increased to genu- 
ine ardor. The President of the University kindly and strenu- 
ously encouraged all efforts. To acquire skill in declamation, 
interpretation and dramatic action some of the more ambitious 
young orators devoted themselves to the diligent and scientific 
rehearsal of dramas, under the direction of experienced instruc- 
tors and critics, and were wont to regale the public with the re- 
sult of their earnest study. What with excellent histrionic talent 
on their part, an enthusiastic spirit and admirable facilities in the 
way of a large hall, with all modern appliances in regard to elec- 
tricity and appropriate stage-setting, together with able manage- 
ment, instruction and encouragement, they felt perfectly confident 
of their ability to appear, with credit, and to be at least on a par 
with any amateur organization of players in the city or state." 

In the Fall of 1899 a few of the more daring Thespians, ven- 
tured the foundation of a permanent Society, whose object should 
be the staging of at least one dramatic piece yearly. The devo- 
tion and energy they brought to the cause enabled its devotees to 
place their organization in the galaxy of the University's best 
societies. 



206 ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 

To insure a membership embracing the best talent was their 
next purpose. The staff of officers was first made up of the ablest 
elocutionists and actors in the College, These formed the 
Dramatic Circle, and applications for membership were submitted 
to them for consideration and acceptance. Only tried or promis- 
ing talent was accepted and members were received only for one 
year. Hence, with the closing of the classes, all except the offi- 
cers ceased to be associated with the Dramatic Circle. On the 
opening of the next fall term, the officers reassembled to receive 
applications and admit new members. When the Circle was fully 
organized for the year, new officers were elected, who retained 
their posts of honor and trust for the ensuing twelve months. 
This system has since been maintained because it promotes en- 
thusiasm and conduces to the development of the best talent. 

According to one of our contributors, the success following 
this earnest application to public speaking in every form, is owing 
to two causes : the first is, that among the students is a goodly 
number of older ones who come to college with the set purpose of 
following some profession; the second is, the long-established 
custom of having a bi-monthly examination in elocution obli- 
gatory on all. 

This constant practice accustoms the boys to put aside all 
fear and gradually makes them feel at ease before an audience. 
The result is made manifest in the various elocution and oratori- 
cal contests, but, above all, in the plays rendered annually. 

"A man of no mean ability as a speaker and one whose ex- 
tensive travels would make him a competent critic, remarked that 
he had never heard boys whose utterance was so distinct and 
whose earnestness in delivery so impressive as those at Creighton. 
Hon. C. J. Smyth, owing to his good impression of the boys as 
speakers, urged them repeatedly to join the State Oratorical As- 
sociation ; his advice was followed after several years' delay, and 
with what result is now a matter of Inter-collegiate History. 

"The plays too, received their share of praise not only from 
friends of the boys but from non-partisan witnesses as well. A 
graduate of the University of Norway, and Leader of the Or- 
chestra at the production of Guy Mannering in 1897, mentioned 
that it was the one-hundredth amateur performance which he had 
attended, and that for general smoothness of acting, it surpassed 



ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 20/ 

them all. In connection with this play there comes to mind an 
incident, small in itself, but one which shows the true spirit of 
good-fellowship and high regard for College interests, 

"Having occasion to call on the star of the cast of College 
players, I met another member of the company, one whom I knew 
to be a comparative stranger to the former, until they were 
thrown together on the stage. The play was to be performed 
that evening, and as the leading man had noticed in the dress re- 
hearsal of the evening before, that this young actor, whom he 
was befriending, was suffering from a severe cold, he insisted 
on the patient remaining with him that night and the next day 
until the performance, applying every known remedy to the cold. 
The sufferer was making his way through College by working 
for his board. He, it was, who told me of the kindness of the 
Good Samaritan, a boy far above him in every respect. 

"Dramatic exhibitions by students are of admirable training 
value. Not only do they furnish entertainment, but they give 
the participants a deeper insight into the nature of dramatic lit- 
erature, they afford practice in elocution, interpretation, imper- 
sonation and public speaking, and at the same time make the 
young gentlemen more versatile, polished and self-reliant in their 
intercourse with men. With this end in view, the Creighton Dra- 
matic Circle was organized. 

"That Dramatics have flourished with splendid results at 
Creighton University, is evident from a list of excellent plays 
enacted by the students, and from the ability and versatility of 
those who took part in them. 'The Critic,' 'Elma,' 'Guy Manner- 
ing,' 'Merchant of Venice,' 'Rip Van Winkle,' 'The Heir-at-law,' 
'A Celebrated Case,' 'Rosedale,' and 'Rob Roy' were produced in 
the last few years." 

The gradual development of Dramatic power led to a special 
effort at character portrayal in 1902. The play was "The House 
of St, Quentin," a dramatization of the novel, "The Helmet of 
Navarre." The play was formally studied according to the pre- 
scribed rules of dramatic art. The novel was read and re-read 
until the atmosphere in which the action is cast thoroughly im- 
bued the work. Each player in addition, studied the prototype 
of his character, as given by the novelist, and toned down his 
conception of it to suit the person o.f the play. As the characters 



208 ELOCUTION, DRAMATICS AND ORATORY. 

are little changed from the novel, this was easily done. More- 
over, private rehearsals of individual characters were freely held. 
In these private lessons the character was first discussed and then 
practised to insure perfect reproduction. Besides these details, 
which are here set down to show the present stage of dramatic 
development, the general setting of the play was carefully and 
successfully attended to. Such a love of dramatic art and such 
promising ability in the students were not brought about in three 
or four years. The philosophy of it lies deep in the work done 
during the score of years preceding the organization of the Dra- 
matic Circle. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



ORATORICAL CONTESTS. 

THE success of Creighton students in the Nebraska Oratori- 
cal Association has been so marked as to justify a separate 
chapter on this subject. 

The Woodstock Letters of June, 1902, gives an account of 
one of these contests. At the risk of spoiHng the article, we ven- 
ture to abridge it. 

"Last Autumn a Creighton boy came out first in the State 
Oratorical Contest, and Creighton students won the first and 
second places in our own Provincial 'Intercollegiate English.' 
This success together with our rapid material growth has adver- 
tised us far and wide ; and we have gained notoriety enough to 
satisfy the appetite of the most thoroughly acclimated Ne- 
braskan. 

"I have not been long enough at Creighton to have a plausi- 
ble title to any of the credit, and am, perhaps, for that reason, 
becoming somewhat tired of the huzzas and alleluias. How for- 
tunate, then, that your former kindness will not allow me to re- 
fuse your request for some account of the Oratorical Contest. 

"Well, every college has, or is supposed to have, its Debat- 
ing or Oratorical Association. We have one. It was announced 
late last Fall that each member was to write an oration and hand 
it to the President. This officer was to select from six to a dozen 
of the best from the whole number. These best were given to the 
Judges of composition. The Judges determined which orators 
should appear in a public contest, held about the middle of Jan- 
uary. Three prominent members of the Omaha Bench and Bar 
acted as Judges on delivery and in their judgment, James E. 
Woodard obtained first place. This made him Creighton's 
representative in the Annual State Oratorical Contest. Like 
work was being done at the same time in the other six Nebraska 

(209) 



210 ORATORICAL CONTESTS. 

Colleges holding membership in the Nebraska Collegiate Oratori- 
cal Association. The seven champions chosen by this process 
met in our University Hall, March 21st, On this occasion our 
young junior achieved his second and greater victory. The col- 
leges participating not only sent their representative orators, but 
large and enthusiastic delegations of students to cheer and sup- 
port the contestants. Keen rivalry and glowing enthusiasm gave 
zest and interest to the program, but in no way interfered with 
orderly progress and good feeling. The orators and delegates 
departed in defeat but not in chagrin ; for they declared, through 
their ofificial spokesman, that Creighton had fairly won and was 
an ideal entertainer besides. The pride and enthusiasm of the 
victory were felt not only by the students of Creighton, but by 
the people, and press of Omaha; and congratulations poured in 
from friends and alumni from all directions. 

"Now, as our local contest, with its preparations, can be 
taken as typical of the similar contests in the other colleges of the 
state; so our State Contest will serve as a sample of what was 
done in nine other states in preparation for the Interstate Contest. 
Just as the winner in the local contest represents his College in the 
State Contest, so the winner in this latter represents his state in 
the Interstate Contest. 

This Interstate Contest was held at St. Paul, Minnesota, May 
1st. The States represented were: Colorado, Indiana, Illi- 
nois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin 
and Ohio. 

"Readers unacquainted with the State and Interstate Asso- 
ciations and their methods and laws, may wish to know what 
precautions have been taken to secure fairness in the decisions. 
Quite clearly, as far as the rules and methods go, a bona fide at- 
tempt has been made to counteract prejudices, do away with the 
personal equation and insure fair dealing. There are six judges 
in all for each contest. Three pass on the value of the written 
orations ; and three on delivery. Each judge assigns notes to the 
individual contestants. For instance, a judge of composition 
gets ten papers. To the first one he reads he assigns one-hundred 
notes, and proceeds to mark the others above or below that num- 
ber according to his judgment of their merits. When this is done, 
he ranks the man with the highest number of notes 'first' and 



ORATORICAL CONTESTS, 211 

SO on down the line. The markings of the six judges are taken. 
The six figures indicating the rank of each individual contestant, 
are added together. A little consideration, it has been found by 
experience, is required to make beginners see that the smaller 
this sum the higher the rank. Happily the readers of the LET- 
TERS are not beginners. In case of a tie in the sums of the rank 
numbers, recourse is had to the notes, precedence being given to 
the one who has obtained the highest total of notes. 

"This point suggests another difficulty and one that is urged 
as an objection to the method. It is that of two men, the one 
with a lower total of notes may outrank one with a higher total. 
But the system is an advisable compromise, has been adopted 
after long experience and full discussion, and seldom does any 
serious mischief. 

"A further precaution in the interest of justice is that no 
judge either of composition or delivery, can be in any way con- 
nected with the College concerned. He cannot even be a resident 
of the district where such College is situated. The judges, un- 
der these limitations, are selected by the Executive Board, Pres- 
ident, Vice-President and Secretary of the Association. More- 
over, any college can protest against and displace any judge up 
to a certain date before the contest. 

"In spite of all this, there are the personal equation, sectional 
pride, political affiliation, and the religious sympathies or an- 
tipathies to deal with. When these are taken together with the 
natural proneness of the defeated to indulge in complaint, we 
need not wonder that there are occasional insinuations of unfair- 
ness, and that such insinuations are not always without founda- 
tion. It will be of interest to know that in the Nebraska Contest 
this year, one of our judges of composition was a distinguished 
Jesuit Father of the New York-Maryland Province, and a Pro- 
fessor at Georgetown University — the Reverend A. J. Elder Mul- 
lan. He awarded the highest place to Creighton — a decision in- 
dependently concurred in by the other two judges. Rev. Mr. 
Ludden, a Lutheran Minister of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Profes- 
sor Ellis of the Kansas State Normal School. Two of the three 
judges in delivery in the same contest were Episcopalian Min- 
isters. (The names and markings of all the judges were given 



212 ORATORICAL CONTESTS. 

in tabulated form and afford a good illustration of the method 
outlined.) 

"Mr. Woodard was the first representative of a Catholic 
College to appear at the Interstate Contest. His appearance was 
a cause of no little wonderment and perplexity to many, a fact 
which went to show how much rusticity still finds congenial lodg- 
ment in the enlightened minds of Mississippi Valley College 
men. Nevertheless, Mr. Woodard was listened to with respectful 
attention, did credit to his College and himself, and even in the 
judgment of three Methodist ministers, who sat on delivery, he 
had no superior in at least four of the competing states. His 
showing was excellent when all the circumstances are considered. 

"Creighton College boys have now taken part in three of the 
State Contests of Nebraska. They have always come off with 
distinction and have risen year after year until they now stand at 
the head of the State Association. There were, in the beginning, 
just such difficulties to overcome as confronted our representative- 
this year at St. Paul. But prejudices, religious and educational, 
are rapidly disappearing. There is for the future a reasonable 
prospect of a fair field and no favor. And another advantage of 
no small value that comes of Creighton's membership in the As- 
sociation is that no college and contestant would now bring for- 
ward the calumny and gross abuse of the Church which used to 
constitute the staple orations in former years." 

In the following year, 1903, the Creighton representative, 
Frank Montgomery, won first place in the State Oratorical Con- 
test, under similar conditions. That gave the prize to a Creigh- 
tonian two years in succession, though this College had been in 
competition only four years. 

Owing to an informality in the markings of one of the judges 
on delivery, the defeated colleges claimed that the first contest 
was invalid and insisted on a second. Creighton opposed this 
plan vigorously, arguing that her man had fairly won first place 
and that the error in question, even if admitted, affected only 
those below her. It was agreed to substitute the markings of the 
referee judge, provided for by the constitution, but when it was 
found that his notes also gave Montgomery first place, they also 
were thrown out. Various other methods were suggested for 
meeting the technical difficulty. All were rejected by a slight 



ORATORICAL CONTESTS. 21 3 

majority of the other colleges, and a new contest was ordered. 
Mr. Montgomery very properly declined to re-enter, because he 
had already won first place and his superiority had been acknowl- 
edged by the officers of the state association, who had given him 
the money prize, as well as his credentials to the interstate con- 
test. To compete again would be to admit that his honors had not 
been fairly won. In this emergency the Creighton Association 
put up another man and Thomas F. McGovern represented her 
in the supplementary contest. To the great satisfaction of the 
Creightonians, Mr. McGovern justified the confidence reposed in 
him and won first place in the second contest. Thus two victories 
were recorded instead of one ; and the names of Montgomery and 
McGovern were linked together as Oratorical champions of Ne- 
braska in 1903. 



Gathering the Harvest, 




Fcecunda mater gaudiorum 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 

FOR the material of this chapter, we must draw largely upon 
the newspaper press of Omaha, which, from the beginning, 
has faithfully chronicled the public achievements of Creighton. 

A complimentary editorial of the Herald, on "Our Boys and 
Creighton," back in the early days, furnishes the keynote. 

"The Herald has much to say about Our Girls, and now and 
then a word about Our Boys. The Creighton College Commence- 
ment, Wednesday evening, furnished texts for ample discourse 
upon the last mentioned subject. The products of Omaha's young 
manhood which were exhibited at the College, are calculated to ex- 
cite the pride of every citizen of the city, not only in Our Boys, 
but in the great school in which they are being trained in their 
minds and likewise in their manners. It might be deemed in- 
vidious to mention a few of Our Boys at the new college, where 
so many deserve it, but such stalwart specimens of the native 
young manhood of Omaha as Caldwell Hamilton, as he appeared 
in the discourse on 'Education,' Harry Burkley, as he came for- 
ward in his various roles, Frank and John McCreary, William 
Shields, Robert McDonagh, Arthur Creighton and Cornelius 
Sullivan, cannot be passed without mention. But, flanking all, 
were scores of the younger boyhood who are receiving the 
inestimable advantages of religious, moral, and educational train- 
ing at Creighton College. 

"Under the scrutiny of Bishop O'Connor and personal di- 
rection of President Shaffel, the College gives evidence in its 
rich and ripening fruit of the great work that is being done in 
the Institution which was bequeathed to the people by Mrs. 
Creighton. iMore enduring than brass or marble, the College 
founded and endowed by her munificence, will be the best mon- 
ument to memories of good which are still fresh and green in the 

(215) 



2l6 SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 

hearts of those who know the donors best and loved them most. 
That the College is fully answering to the highest hopes of its 
usefulness is shown in the progress that has been made in the 
scholastic year just closed, and all, who can appreciate the mean- 
ing of it, will join in the prayer that this great Institution may 
go on in its good work in educating Our Boys, from generation 
to generation," 

Half a decade later. Governor Thayer took up the same 
theme. 

"I have found it impossible to resist any request of your 
President. I had no thought of being pressed into service this 
evening. Some weeks ago, I received a cordial invitation to 
be present at the laying of the corner-stone of St. John's Church. 
I came and was amply rewarded for coming; for it was then I 
received a request to be present here this evening. I cannot ex- 
press the pleasure I derived from the presentation of testimonials 
to these young students. It was unexpected, consequently the 
more enjoyed. I am glad I was thus honored. The sight of 
these boys in College here, is a grand one to me, and as I look 
over this splendid audience, I cannot help but recall Nebraska as 
I knew it thirty-three years ago and contrast it with to-day. How 
beautiful it is with its flourishing cities and towns, treeless plains, 
cut up into thriving and charming farms, with its church steeples 
towering up from every village and every town, and school houses 
everywhere ! Here, in the midst of this beautiful city, fast grow- 
ing in population, power and influence, everything evinces a high 
degree of prosperity. What has caused these changes in human 
power, energy and life ? What has brought about these great and 
grand results ? Nothing, my friends, but Christianity and educa- 
tion. They go hand in hand and carry forward progress and en- 
lightenment among all the people. Where these exist, you will 
find the highest type of civilization. Christianity and education 
are the bulwark of the nation ; they uphold the people, tend to 
make them better, to elevate them to a higher plane of life. The 
object of all should be to improve the condition of those around 
them. I rejoice at the prosperity, the beneficent influences, the 
ennobling efforts of Creighton College, and am glad of an oppor- 
tunity to thus manifest my interest in it. We cannot take too 
deep an interest in our schools and colleges ; for in them our chil- 
dren are to be taught the ways of right." 



SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 21/ 

Later still, the World-Herald in an editorial on the "Growth 
of Catholicity," points a moral by reference to Creighton. "Those 
who closely observe the methods and works of the Catholic 
Church in America, will see that they are marked by wonderful 
business ability and enlightened views. Large amounts of prop- 
erty have been amassed by executive ability of the highest order. 
Colleges and universities have been established, wherein liberal 
education and culture are possible. The sciences, once opposed 
and oppressed, are now in America liberally taught and deeply 
studied. At Creighton College, here in Omaha, are now to be 
found under Qiurch patronage. Catholic professors of a high or- 
der of learning in the sciences. The Church Government, which 
has brought about this change, is not of the kind wh.'ch would b2 
intolerant if it had the power. In fact, intolerance would ruin its 
power. The Catholic Church of today is an intellectual Church, 
in spite of the fact that many of those who worship at Catholic 
shrines are ignorant and uneducated. There are many respects 
in which Protestant Churches might strengthen themselves by 
following the example of the Catholic Church in the building up 
of knowledge and learning as towers of strength to a temple of 
religion. To be lasting, to be progressive and even to hold its 
own in these days of growth and advancement, a religion must be 
enlightened and intellectual. The need of the Churches is more 
intellectuality mixed with their emotionahsm." 

P. McKillip, now a banker, was the first student who gained 
signal honor for his Alma Mater, by his success in the Intercol- 
legiate English contest, between the seven Jesuit Colleges of the 
Province of Missouri. One of his Professors intimates that the 
young man deserved all the honor he received. "He won," says 
this authority, "by the most painstaking and systematic work a 
boy could impose upon himself. He remained in the city during 
Christmas Week, instead of going home. He wrote and re-wrote 
the paper at least ten times, studied every word and sentence ; was 
satisfied with nothing that was not perfect and polished *ad un- 
guem.' His paper was considered the best ever written by a 
Creighton boy, up to that time." 

The Omaha Nezvs of July 29, 1900, sounds the praises of an- 
other bright student. "A large eastern daily in one of its recent 
issues, prefaced an article relative to an extraordinary success in 



2l8 SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 

collegiate competitive examinations with the following paragraph : 
'A young man from Lone Jack, Mo., has set a new standard for 
future law students at Harvard, in passing eleven examinations 
with honors in the finals held at the Law School this year.' While 
not wishing to say anything disparaging of his accomplishment, 
the Daily News would respectfully call the attention of its readers 
to a similar feat which was performed by an Omaha man during 
the past year, at Yale Law School. Mr. John T. Smith, who 
graduated from Creighton College in June, 1899, entered the 
Law Department at Yale immediately on finishing his course in 
this city. While at Creighton he had shown wonderful ability, 
leading his class for three successive years, and winning, on two 
different occasions, third and first place among 400 competitors 
in Intercollegiate English Composition contests. Being anxious to 
practise his chosen profession, as soon as possible, Mr. Smith was 
enrolled at Yale as a two year man, the regular course extending 
over three years. This necessitated his doing a year and a half's 
work in each of the two years. Added to this, Mr. Smith had 
been further handicapped by an affliction of his eyes, which made 
study at times impossible and at other times, very difficult." 

To those unacquainted with the exact nature of Yale exam- 
inations, the following, which is a part of the newspaper article 
above alluded to, is necessary for the proper understanding of the 
real significance of an examination in that institution. Speaking 
of the difficulties of these examinations in Harvard, (and the 
same will apply to Yale), the article says: 'There are, perhaps, 
no more severe examinations given in any institution in America, 
than the annual finals which every student must pass before he 
is awarded his degree by the Faculty of the Law School. The 
method hit upon for decreasing the number of students in that 
school, was to make the work and examinations so severe that 
only men of rare ability could pass. This has been carried out to 
the dismay of seventeen men who failed to pass the required work 
this June. Not a few men each year find that they are physically 
unable to endure the strain of the required five examinations.' 

"Mr. Smith not only endured the strain of five examinations, 
but of twenty-eight examinations, twenty-seven of which he 
passed in three days. Sixteen of these were regular junior ex- 
aminations, that is, such as are required of those that have spent 



SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 219 

one year in the school, and twelve of the examinations were mid- 
dle year examinations, or such as are required of those who have 
spent two years in the Institution. 

"There were in the Law School last year, twelve men who 
were endeavoring to make the course in two years, and of these, 
all of whom held College degrees, only four passed, Mr. Smith 
being among their number. One reason for the failure of the 
other eight was that higher notes are required of the two year 
men than of their three year brothers, as the Faculty of the 
School is very desirous of stamping out the two year course. 

"In addition to passing these two examinations successfully, 
Mr. Smith won the Betts prize of $50.00 for the best junior ex- 
aminations, taking twenty-eight examinations, while most of the 
juniors took but sixteen. He also won the second prize in the 
Wayland Prize Debate, was chosen one of the principals of the 
Harvard- Yale Debate, an honor which is sought after with much 
rivalry by the students, and was elected an editor of the Yale Law 
Journal. 

"Much of Mr. Smith's success at Yale is undoubtedly due to 
the preparatory training he received at Creighton College, of this 
city, and his record is a splendid tribute to the value of the learn- 
ing imparted in that Institution." 

About the same time another Creightonian was winning 
laurels, to which the same paper refers in these terms. 

"For the third time in seven years Creighton University has 
taken the first prize in the Intercollegiate English Contest. John 
A. Bennewitz, who had previously captured the Intercollegiate 
Latin prize, won the $75.00 cash prize offered for the best essay 
on 'Orestes A. Brownson as a Patriot.' The contest is open to 
seniors, juniors and sophomores in colleges at St. Louis, Chicago, 
Cincinnati, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Mary's (Kansas) and Omaha. 
As several hundred students participated in this contest, Mr. 
Bennewitz's victory has brought great honor to himself and to 
Creighton University. In each school all contestants who desired 
to write essays, were assigned the subject and wrote their pa- 
pers within six hours. They were not allowed to use reference 
books. Three essays were selected by the Faculty of each school 
and submitted to Judges who made the final decision." 



220 SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 

The Omaha Bee, April 21, 1901, recounted the praises of an- 
other student of Creighton. 

"During the past year, an Omaha student has made a record 
in the East which is worthy of more than passing notice, inas- 
much as, apart from being a tribute to the young man's abihty, it 
speaks creditably for his western collegiate training. Mr. Joseph 
B. Egan, who was born and reared in Omaha, graduated from 
Creighton College, of this city, in June, 1899, with high honors. 
His preference and talents were literary and the success which 
he met with in that line while at Creighton, induced him to adopt 
literature as a profession. In his sophomore year at Creighton, 
he published a short character sketch in Donahue's Magazine of 
Boston, and during the rest of his course was an occasional con- 
tributor to various publications. In his senior year he was award- 
ed a gold medal for literary excellence in an Intercollegiate En- 
glish Composition contest in which about 300 students partici- 
pated. 

"Desiring to perfect himself in his chosen profession, Mr. 
Egan specialized in English Literature, besides following subsid- 
iary courses in History, German and Constitutional Government. 
It was his good fortune to be assigned to the class of literature 
which was presided over by Professor Gardner, the well known 
literateur and author of text books on literature and kindred sub- 
jects. The fruits of such an association were not long in man- 
ifesting themselves. 

"One of Mr. Egan's earliest triumphs during the year, was 
the acceptance of a poem by John Kendrick Bangs, Editor of 
Harper's Monthly Magazine. Mr. Egan also contributed to other 
eastern publications, but his most signal victory was the winning 
of a scholarship in competition with freshman, sophomore, junior 
and special students of Harvard. These scholarships are eagerly 
sought after; for, aside from being an express recognition of 
abihty, they carry with them a year's tuition. Mr. Egan spent 
much of his spare time while East in tutoring, and in the com- 
position of various literary productions, one of which. The Or- 
deal of the Sword,' is now running in a western magazine." 

The Medical Department met with similar success. Up to 
1902 Creighton graduates received the highest grades ever given 
^)y the State Board of Examiners in Iowa, Utah and Kansas. Five 



SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 221 

of the graduates are army surgeons. One student, who left at the 
end of sophomore year, won the first prize in the College of P. 
& S., New York, where he completed his medical education; and 
another, who entered the senior year of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, also won first prizes. Other successes of the students 
of this Institution have already been mentioned under different 
heads of this book. 

It has often been asked what becomes of most of the grad- 
uates of our Jesuit colleges in this country? What proportion 
of them enter the learned professions ? Father Coppens has tried 
to get together some data, which are given in the "Woodstock 
Letters," Volume 30, No. i, p. 154, 1901. "We have taken up a 
period of about nine years, within which we could trace all our 
graduates. During that time we conferred the degree of A.B. on 
sixty-one students. Their subsequent career naturally has been 
varied ; and here exact statistics will be of special value. Of these, 
four entered our Society, and two, the ranks of the Secular Cler- 
gy, not counting, of course, the several others who left from 
Rhetoric or Poetry for our novitiate or for the seminary ; twelve 
have entered on the practice or the study of law; nine, medicine, 
two pharmacy, one is an electrician, and one is a student of mining 
engineering; two are engaged in editorial work on newspapers; 
one, in post-graduate studies in the department of literature; two 
became principals of High Schools ; one has died ; one is a real es- 
tate agent; eight are engaged in commerce; and fifteen are still 
clerking, but these, being still quite young, will probably later on 
enter upon more important careers. Out of one graduating class 
of eight, seven took up higher studies. 

"In the Oratorical Contest of 1901, between seven colleges 
of Nebraska, our champion was awarded the second place for 
literary excellence. This result was the more satisfactory as the 
speech was all his own, while it was openly acknowledged that 
several of the other speeches were not written by those who de- 
livered them. This statement is substantiated by an incident which 
occurred on that occasion. At a meeting of the representatives of 
the seven colleges concerned, a student moved the enactment of a 
by-law limiting the aid that the professors should be allowed to 
give the contesting orators. The more ingenuous stated that 
some of the professors were tired of correcting the compositions 



222 SUCCESS OF CREIGHTON AND HER STUDENTS. 

and that in such correction, the speeches were often so much 
changed as to be almost new compositions. Our students and 
those of another college supported the motion, but it was voted 
down by a decisive majority. This is an acknowledgment that 
the contest has so far been, in most cases, between the professors 
themselves." 

Akin to this question is another: What proportion of stu- 
dents graduate or even go as far as the collegiate department?' 
An accurate answer to this question, will be found in the dia- 
grams at the end of this book, and especially the one giving the 
"Numerical Life of the Classes" from the beginning of the Col- 
lege. By means of this diagram, every class, since the College 
began, can be traced through the seven years' course. Many 
causes have operated to make boys stop short in Creighton: In 
the early days, few had any taste for study, and fewer still, were 
fit material for College; a Latin course was forced upon them 
before the time was ripe for it ; classical studies were for a long 
time looked upon as a waste of time ; no electives were allowed ; 
not a few failed in examination designedly; the majority found a 
seven years' course too long and some of the best students had 
to leave for lack of means to continue their course. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE AT CREIGHTON. 

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY has tried to arrange and apply 
its course in such a way as to be helpful to those who can 
profit by it. It has tried to make place for eligible applicants, 
even if they intend to take only one or two branches. Suppose a 
young man who is certain to make his mark in the world presents 
himself and says : "I can stay at college only one or two years. I 
have earned enough money to keep me for that length of time, and 
after it is spent, I must go to work again. I do not want any 
Latin; it will be of no use to me, and I cannot study it long 
enough to get any benefit out of it, anyhow ; give me what will fit 
me for the life I must lead." We ought to have place for such a 
person, and we have. It would be a pity to say to him : "We 
have a certain fixed course. If you do not wish to take all the 
studies prescribed, you will have to go elsewhere." We encour- 
age him: "Step right in; your notions are a little hazy, but we 
can do as well for you as any other institution can." Why not? 
He is resolute, strong, talented; just such a one as will be a leader 
among men. Why should we not take him, even for a year or 
two, and embrace the opportunity of teaching him Christian Doc- 
trine, morality and sound principles ; and then send him forth as a 
strong moral force among our countrymen? 

Mere teaching is not education ; and, when a young man 
emerges from college, people do not judge him solely by what he 
has acquired from books. They do not test his linguistic, mathe- 
matical or scientific attainments; but they judge him by his pre- 
sentability, his tact, his ability to speak and write, his evidence of 
mental cultivation, his practical good sense, his force of character, 
his uprightness, his availability for the necessary purposes of life, 
his readiness to take and hold his place with honor in the world 
of action. If he is rude, unpolished, clowtiish, they do not take to 

(223) 



224 HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 

him, no matter how highly gifted or how deeply learned he may 
be. They judge by what they see in him — and we try to put into 
him something worth seeing. 

Let me cite an actual case. A respectable clergyman, high 
in honor, writes in these terms : "There is a young man of 
twenty-one, a near relative of mine, in whom I am much interest- 
ed. He should be a Catholic, but, through no fault of his, he has 
grown up outside of the church. He is well disposed and wants to 
study our religion, and under proper influence will becom'e a Cath- 
olic. I should like to get him into your institution, mainly for re- 
ligious instruction and to bring him into contact With Catholics. 
He likes your college, but would prefer a place where he can select 
studies that will fit him for the law. If it be possible will you let 
him select such branches as he thinks will be best for his purpose ? 
There are places where he can do so; he suggests the State Uni- 
versity, near which he lives ; but now is a critical time with him 
and, if I fail at the present to get him under Catholic influence, 
I fear that I shall never succeed in my purpose. What he may 
choose may not be the best for him in itself; but it would be, if 
the failure to be with you should deprive him of the opportunity 
of learning our religion. If possible, grant my request." Must 
we reject such an applicant because he will not take a full class; 
because his studies have been desultory ; because he does not know 
anything thoroughly ? He is satisfied with English and Latin ; 
he wants to learn how to write and speak ; he does not want any 
more Greek and Mathematics than he already knows; he takes 
what he wants and is contented with that. Meanwhile he studies 
religion. Once more it would be a pity not to answer favorably 
this pathetic appeal. It is not necessary to reject him. Our Spec- 
ial Class meets his requirements perfectly. 

Another actual case. A Protestant physician, who has been 
in practice for several years, applies for admission. He is pre- 
pared to give his entire time to study ; he wants to take a classical 
course, of which he now realizes the advantage; but while he is 
fit for Sophomore in English, he knows little Latin and no Greek ; 
he could attend no regular class with profit. What will you do 
with him; send him away? Certainly not, if we consider the in- 
tention of the founders of Creighton College. 

Some time ago a Catholic student brought to us a young man 



HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 225 

of 29, who had been an evangeHst. He was a sincere, earnest, 
sensible man, and his idea was that he ought to study sacred ora- 
tory, because he felt that beyond a certain point he had not the 
sustained power for holding an audience. The year was already 
two months advanced, and what could be done with him? He 
was willing to study English and Latin, as well as oratory, but 
that would require him to go from class to class for dififerent 
branches. He was excellent material to work upon and will prove 
a power for good or evil ; he is suitable material for our special 
class. 

Here comes another. This young man v/ants to prepare him- 
self for the study of medicine, but as he has to make his own way 
in the world, he can spend but one or two years at college. He 
has had some Latin, but in such an irregular way that he knows a 
few declensions, a few conjugations, and nothing thoroughly. He 
is far advanced in Mathematics, writes fairly good English, but is 
weak in punctuation and most of the minor points. He wants to 
take all he can get, but unfortunately he will not fit in any one 
class ; and the year has already begun. What is to be done with 
him? The special class meets his wants. 

Still another, — a young man who has been "stumping" his 
native state. He has a commercial training, which has enabled 
him to earn enough money to take a more finished course. He 
knows English pretty well ; can write a popular speech and deliver 
it with force; he feels his deficiencies, yet hardly knows what he 
wants ; he will put himself into our hands to do with him what 
we think best. What a hotch-potch his training has been ! Must 
he be rejected because he will fit in no one class? Our special 
class makes provision for him. 

All these — real cases — came up within a few weeks : they are 
such as are continually occurring in our Western States. Hun- 
dreds of excellent young men come to Creighton from every di- 
rection and their circumstances prove that we are confronted with 
conditions which refjuire great elasticity in our system, if we wish 
to have a chance to mould the thousands of brainy young men that 
naturally belong to us, and who will exert great influence on their 
times. 

The spirit of the institution appears from a circular issued in 
1902. It explains itself. 



226 HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 

"Through the Hberality of Count John A. Creighton we have 
added to our buildings and are now able to accommodate a larger 
number of students than ever before. We take occasion of this 
improvement, therefore, to inform the Reverend Clergy in our 
vicinity that Creighton College, of the Creighton University, is a 
free Catholic College for young men, and that its advantages 
are not limited to the residents of Nebraska. A classical and 
scientific course of seven years is open to all applicants of good 
moral character, and no charge is made for tuition during the 
entire course. Three years of this course correspond to the ordi- 
nary High School, and four years to the usual college curriculum 
leading up to the degree of A. B. 

"Board and lodging can be had in private families as 
low as fifteen dollars a month; and even for less, if the student 
is not too exacting; so that a young man can attend this College 
for an entire session of ten months at a cost of about $150. 

"We offer no inducements to those now attending Catholic 
schools, and we do not wish to attract this class of youth to 
Creighton. Neither do we want those who are likely to attend a 
good Catholic boarding-school, which is generally safer for the 
average boy than a day school away from home ; but we do wish 
to reach that large class of Catholic young men who now attend 
non-Catholic and state schools, those who go to no school at all, 
and those who cannot or will not go to a Catholic boarding-col- 
lege. 

"This institution is not intended for small boys, who would 
not profit by living among strangers in Omaha; neither is it in- 
tended for young men, who are not steady in their habits, and 
who, if thrown on their own responsibility, would easily succumb 
to the temptations of city life. We know, however, by experience 
that many who are eager to acquire a Catholic education, never 
think it possible to do so, because they know of no suitable school 
in their neighborhood and see no possibility of ever attending a 
boarding-school. They are sensible, steady, reliable and moral 
young men ; they are thoroughly in earnest and willing to study ; 
they want to make good use of their opportunities and not to 
trifle away their time in amusements and dissipation. This is the 
kind of students to whom we wish to extend our facilities. We 
desire especially to offer a helping hand to the young men, who 



HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 22/ 

early in life have had few opportunities, and who, in consequence 
are backward in their studies. For this reason we are willing to 
admit to our preparatory department those who have not gone 
higher than the seventh or eighth grade in the common schools, 
provided they are not less than seventeen years of age. We will 
put them under a special teacher to be helped according to their 
deficiences, till they are ready to enter one of the regular classes. 
Many of our students are of this kind. They have made their 
own way through life, are now in our Academic and Collegiate 
classes, with immense profit to themselves, and are looking for- 
ward hopefully to the completion of the whole course. 

"It is generally admitted that higher education is the key to 
Catholic influence in the future, and that Catholic parents should 
be encouraged to give all possible educational advantages to their 
children, because only in that way can they do their duty to their 
offspring, to their country and to the Church. 

"Since we ask nothing from our students, it is clear that in 
opening the doors of Creighton College to young men of respect- 
ability, we have no object in view but the good which will accrue 
to our Catholic people by the extension of higher education among 
them. Many young men never think of college as a possibility 
for themselves unless someone suggests the ways and means and 
encourages them to strive for it and make some sacrifices to ob- 
tain it. We venture then, to ask you to extend a personal invi- 
tation to any suitable youth in your parish. If it does not inter- 
fere with your local interests, and if it seems good to you, we 
should be glad to have you read this announcement to your peo- 
ple, with such comment and exhortation as will arouse from luke- 
warmness those who are able to properly educate their sons. Per- 
haps the example of what one family in Omaha has done to put 
higher education within the reach of many, may inspire other 
Catholic families of means, to provide similar endowments for 
elementary schools in your midst, and thus establish feeders for 
Catholic academies, colleges and universities. 

"It is not the direct purpose of Creighton College to prepare 
candidates for the priesthood ; it aims at giving a general educa- 
tion, which, when the time comes for choosing a future career, 
M^ill fit the recipient for entering any state of life. We do not 
claim to teach everything ; but we do claim to teach, as thoroughly 



228 HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 

as possible, what we undertake to teach. The course embraces 
such branches as in some form, however elementary, are deemed 
absolutely essential for a liberal education. It is mainly classical 
and scientific in character, with special reference to oratory, com- 
position and such other accomplishments as befit the modern man 
of culture. We do not conduct a purely commercial department, 
because we feel that we can teach the essential commercial 
branches while devoting our main attention to the studies that 
more efficiently develop the mind and heart and form character. 

"We believe that the Catholic college should be a center of 
influence, initiative and suggestion; that it should be a source of 
intellectual life ; that it comes properly within its sphere to scatter 
the seeds of Catholic activity. This is our excuse for sending 
this letter to the clergy of Nebraska and the adjacent states." 

The same spirit of helpfulness actuated the College from the 
beginning. As far back as 1885 it was manifest from another 
circular of information issued. 

"A course of Scientific Lectures will begin at the College on 
Thursday, October 15th, 1885, and continue till the latter part of 
April. The principles of Physics in some of their practical bear- 
ings, such as the Mechanics of Solids and Fluids; the Influence 
of the Specific Gravity of Liquids on Commerce; the Importance 
of the Microscope in the Study of Vegetable and Animal Tissues, 
— of Pharmacognosy and the Detection of Adulterations, — Pol- 
ariscopic and Spectrum Analysis of the same, and of similar ob- 
jects ; the Nature of Sound and Light ; Meteorology ; Cremation, 
etc., will form the subject matter of the Course. As the Col- 
lege possesses an excellent set of instruments, all the Lectures 
will be brilliantly illustrated with a variety of experiments. 

"To inaugurate the course, two public lectures will be given, 
one on Oct. 15th, the other on Oct. 22nd, at 7 130 P. M. in Creigh- 
ton College Hall. The regular lectures of the course will take 
place every Thursday at the same hour, beginning October 29th. 
Occasionally public lectures may be substituted ; but due notice 
will be given of the change. 

"Though this series of lectures is mainly for the benefit of 
young men of literary and scientific tastes who are engaged in 
commercial pursuits, and of students and graduates of law and 
medicine, a welcome is extended to gentlemen of maturer years 



HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 229 

who desire to renew the memory of their earlier studies, or merely 
to be present at an instructive series of scientific lectures. 

"The fee for the entire course will be only what is sufficient 
to defray the expenses incidental to the experiments of the pro- 
fessor and members of the class. Though the private lectures are 
for gentlemen only, both ladies and gentlemen will be admitted 
to the public lectures, for which no charge will be made." 

An appendix in the catalogue of 1885-6 chronicles an inter- 
esting event of the same helpful character. The College made an 
Exhibit of Philosophical and Chemical apparatus, minerals, rare 
books, specimens of class work, collections of coins and other 
curiosities, at the Inter-State Exposition, held in Omaha that year. 
During the course of the Exposition, students of the College were 
in attendance to explain the purpose and utility of the apparatus, 
and to illustrate by experiment when possible. Each article was 
labelled and the peculiar adaptations of the various instruments 
shown by placards. A free public exhibition of the Maiden Triple 
Lantern, with the Chadwick Stewart dissolving system, of recent 
electrical appliances and other scientific apparatus of the College 
collection, was given each night during the Exposition Week 
in front of the Exposition Building. Due notice of each display 
was given in the daily papers. The College exhibit occupied a 
large room to itself. 

Ever since the College opened, the annual retreats of the 
clergy of the diocese have taken place there, because no other in- 
stitution in this vicinity can furnish suitable accommodations for 
so large a number of priests. After the erection of the College 
Chapel in 1902, the place was found so convenient that the Dio- 
cesan Synod was held in it, at the close of the Clergy retreat. 

Many of the students who come from outside and board 
in Omaha while attending College, find it much cheaper at a day- 
school than a boarding-school, because if they want to economize, 
they can do so. They have moreover many opportunities of earn- 
ing a little on the side, to help them through college. Our experi- 
ence with outside students has been an agreeable disappointment. 
We have met with few of the inconveniences said to result from 
boys being thrown on their own responsibilities in a strange city. 
Perhaps the reason is that the majority of our students have not 
had too much spending money, they have invariably been in earn- 



230 HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 

est and had no time to waste, and we generally saw that they were 
located in good Christian families where their morals and habits 
would be looked to and reported, if necessary. Moreover most 
of them come from good Catholic families, can be relied upon, 
are sincerely pious, and have not yet been spoiled. The gradual 
emancipation from control serves an excellent purpose and habit- 
uates them to take care of themselves and be self-reliant and trust- 
worthy, even under circumstances calculated to test their cour- 
age and virtue. The most of them have turned out sterling men. 

Besides being a good spiritual field in itself, Omaha has 
formed an excellent center for excursions to other places in Ne- 
braska and Iowa, for the purpose of giving missions, triduums, 
sermons and otherwise assisting the diocesan clergy. 

It was a priest from the College who for many years attended 
the city and the county jails and the county poor-house. Fathers 
Joseph Rigge and Hubert Peters were companions in this work, 
converting many hardened sinners and attending some of them 
to the gallows. Since their time no inconsiderable part of a 
priest's time has been taken up attending to the House of the Good 
Shepherd, the Poor Clares' Convent and other institutions. 

Father Rigge did some excellent work in his Sunday after- 
noon visits to the jail and poor-house, making a number of con- 
versions. One that attracted much attention was that of a man 
who was hanged for the murder of two old people at a farm near 
South Omaha. An alleged accomplice had been arrested by the 
police, and the circumstantial evidence was so strong that the poor 
wretch came near being condemned and hanged. Father Rigge 
prevailed upon the real criminal to confess on the scaffold, just 
before the trap was sprung, that he had no accomplice whatever. 
The A. P. A. gave Father Rigge considerable annoyance and in- 
terfered much with his ministrations both at the jail and the poor- 
house. 

A charitable worker tells of another convicted criminal as- 
sisted by our Fathers. "One Thursday afternoon I helped Father 
Peters to erect a temporary altar in the cell of this man, then un- 
der the death watch. He had been converted by Father Peters 
and was to hear Mass for the first time. Mass was said in the 
outer cell Friday, The following Sunday he was confirmed in 
his cell. In the early part of the following week he was hanged. 



HELPFULNESS THE PREVAILING NOTE. 23 1 

He was a young man of 35 years of age 6 feet high and of fine 
appearance. After his confession he became very fond of reading 
the Passion of Our Lord. Whenever he came to the part about 
Judas hanging himself, he stopped reading for awhile and sat in 
quiet meditation. The day of his hanging he ascended the scaf- 
fold at noon. About 200 persons were present. While address- 
ing these men he held his crucifix high in the air, and said in part : 
"When I was arrested some of you came around to my cell win- 
dow and clamored for my death; you asked me how I liked my 
place now. None of you or your ministers ever spoke a word to 
me of God or forgiveness. Now here's my God on the crucifix — 
a God of mercy. He is my judge and not you, and I am not afraid 
to meet him. His religion, the Catholic religion, has taught me 
how to die." He then kissed the crucifix and fastened it to his 
wrist. 

Intimately connected with many works of charity initiated 
at Creighton was John Lee, whose patriarchal figure was familiar 
in the homes of the poor. He had a heart for every misery, and 
was playfully called the St. Vincent de Paul Association, for he 
did the work of an entire organization ; and he did it so thor- 
oughly that few cases of genuine distress escaped his vigilant eye. 
He freely gave of his own means and when these proved insuffic- 
ient he enlisted the help of others in succoring the needy. He has 
now gone to his reward. May the Lord rest his charitable soul ! 



Formation of Youth. 




Donee formetur Christus ia vobis. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



PLUCKY BOYS WHO HAVE WORKED THEIR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. 

WE all admire the earnest, hardworking student who strives 
to excel, who is not turned aside by every petty distraction 
and temptation from the tasks imposed upon him in the class- 
room, who realizes that an education is worth having and that it 
can not be had without serious, careful and perservering labor. 
But if we admire such a student we must with greater reason 
praise the one who combines with the above qualities the grit and 
determination to earn, if necessary, his own livelihood during his 
college years. Of this latter class there are many in all of our 
larger colleges. Even in institutions frequented by the sons of the 
wealthy there is a large proportion of students who support them- 
selves by manual labor during their free hours. This class of stu- 
dents is well represented at Creighton. The faculty has always 
been deeply interested in them, has encouraged and assisted them, 
giving them extra time and attention in the class-room, often pro- 
curing them employment, and at times aiding them out of the 
scanty revenue of the college. We believe that a chapter devoted 
to the struggles and success of this class will not only prove inter- 
esting, but may also be an encouragement to others, who may be 
forced to go through college under the same adverse circum- 
stances. 

We shall let the students tell their own story of their exper- 
iences. We regret that we can not reproduce all that would prove 
edifying and instructive ; but we can say in the words of Virgil ; 
"Ex uno disce omnes." The grit and courage of these boys and 
their earnest work in the past, promises for them a successful 
career in the future ; and their old professors feel assured that 



*The matter for this chapter has been furnished by Rev. H. S. Spalding. 

(233) 



234 PLUCKY BOYS. 

these students will be an honor to their Alma Mater and will make 
for themselves an enviable record in the history of the Middle 
West. 

I. "In September, 1898, I entered Creighton College with 
just three dollars in my pocket, a pretty small sum with which 
to buy eight dollars' worth of books and pay board for ten 
months. Many of my acquaintances thought me foolish to make 
the attempt single-handed and alone. But I felt in my heart that 
if I used all the means at my command to work my way through 
college and trusted to God for the rest, all would be well. I must 
confess, however, that my case was a desperate one ; for even if 
I should get a place to work for board and room, where could I 
raise the money for clothes and incidental expenses ;' 

"However, before my three dollars were gone, I did get a 
place to work for board and room. In addition to this, I made a 
few dollars a month by cutting the professors' hair. Owing to a 
change of administration where I was. New Year found me with- 
out money or work ; besides, I had an attack of the grip. Some- 
thing had to be done, and that quickly. I did not for a moment 
entertain the thought of giving up my course : sipping at the 
fountain of knowledge had increased my thirst. Immediately I 
went to a boarding-house and informed the proprietress, with 
whom I was acquainted, that I was penniless, that I wanted to 
continue my college course, and wished her to trust me for a 
month's board. I promised her that if, at the end of that time, 
the money was not forthcoming I would quit college and pay her 
the first money that I should earn. May Heaven reward her for 
the welcome she gave me ; for it was a source of much encourage- 
ment to me. During the previous two years, I had spent some time 
in soliciting advertisements for church socials and entertainments, 
and had often given recitations on these occasions. Many were 
the reproofs I received from friends for spending ^so much time 
in work for which there was no compensation ; but I never for a 
moment forgot the promise that not even a cup of cold water 
given in the Lord's name would go unrewarded. It did bring its 
recompense, as the following will show. About the middle of the 
month referred to above, a fraternal organization requested me to 
give a recitation at a public entertainment. I accepted, at the same 



PLUCKY BOYS. 235 

time suggesting to the committee that I get up the program. 
That program netted me seventy dollars. Needless to say I was 
a happy man. 

"At the close of the year I found that I would fall short about 
six weeks board ; but fortune once more was with me. I had at 
intervals worked in a dining room for my meals and while there 
had acquired a general knowledge of the business ; I wish to re- 
peat that it was very general. As luck would have it, a friend of 
mine who kept a restaurant was going on a two weeks' trip during 
the summer. He infomed me that he would give me six weeks' 
board and lodging, if I would conduct his business during his ab- 
sence. I readily accepted the offer. Right there my trouble 
began. I shall never forget those two weeks. Accustomed as I 
was to sit all day at college, it all but prostrated me to keep going 
from six in the morning until ten at night. But this was not all ; 
for scarcely had my friend departed than the cook informed me 
that he too would seek a cooler clime. Still I induced him to stay 
while I was in charge. What could I have done without him? 
The weather was warm, cooks were scarce, but people ate on. 
Then the second cook and the colored dishwasher decided that 
they could not work in the same kitchen. Well, I could wash 
dishes, but I could not cook, so I let the dishwasher go. The wait- 
ers, too, had me at their mercy ; for it was impossible to secure help 
at that time of the year. Seldom a day passed but one or two were 
absent. Imagine my astonishment on the morning of the 4th of 
July to find not a single living being in the kitchen or dining 
room, save an old gray rat ; and even he vanished at my approach. 
I was about to despair when along came a cook and two waiters, 
half an hour late, but in time to get breakfast. Thus ended my 
first year at college. 

"The years which followed were similar, a constant series of 
ups and downs. My experience has taught me that two things 
are necessary for a boy to succeed in getting through college, — to 
work hard and pray hard. These attended to, success will in- 
evitably follow. 

"Let me in conclusion thank the noble professors whose 
kindness assisted me in no small degree, to overcome the seem- 
ingly impossible difficulties which await the penniless young man 
who would enjoy the sweet fruits of a true. Christian education." 



236 PLUCKY BOYS. 

And yet, though he had plenty of troubles of his own, this 
hard pressed and overtaxed student was always ready to help 
others. He found time to aid boys who needed a guide, philoso- 
pher and friend ; two or three times a week he went to carry coal 
and water and put things in order for a poor, old, helpless woman 
whose relatives had deserted her in a hovel. The day was never 
too short for him to do a kindly act, and his purse never too light 
to be emptied for those in greater need than himself. If a pro- 
fessor wanted a favor, something done, a programme worked up, 
he was always on hand. As a clever business man — one who 
knew how to approach people and deal with them successfully — 
he was not a college boy but a man, capable of representing 
Creighton with credit to himself and the institution. He had come 
to Omaha poor and friendless ; but his influence with business men 
and newspapers was greater than that of many whose names had 
been honored there for years. All this may seem to be exaggera- 
tion, but as one who came constantly in contact with him, I can 
truly say that I have not exaggerated, nor said half of what might 
be said. 

2. "Providentially I heard of Creighton University where 
the only requisites for obtaining the best education possible were 
pluck and perseverance. This is what I wished for; a school 
that was free and situated in a city where there were opportuni- 
ties for earning a livelihood. I matriculated at Creighton on the 
fifth of Sept. 1898. 

"I had sufficient means to take me through the first year 
of college, but when that year was over, I found myself con- 
fronted with the stern reality of self-support and without a dollar 
in my pocket. I managed to stand the landlady off for two 
weeks until I could earn some money. The Trans-Mississippi 
Exposition was about to throw open its doors to the public, and 
many good positions were offered ; but there were a hundred ap- 
plicants for every position. Through the kindness and influence 
of a friend I secured a place as gate-keeper towards the latter part 
of August, when vacation was nearly over. But in the meanwhile 
I worked in a department store, for the enormous salary of six 
dollars per week. I remained with the Exposition until it closed, 
missing two months of class and one month of salary, as the en- 



PLUCKY BOYS. 237 

terprise was declared bankrupt. During the winter I found an 
opportunity of earning enough money to meet my expenses. When 
vacation came I was again confronted with the unpleasant task 
of looking for work. Having secured a place with the Cudahy 
Packing Co., of So. Omaha, I remained with the firm until the 
middle of September, earning about one hundred and twenty 
dollars. Returning to school on the fifteenth of September, I 
soon got a job in a freight house, working three or four hours 
every day after class. What I made here, together with v/hat I 
saved during vacation, was sufficient to meet my expenses for the 
year. I found it hard to hold this position and at the same time 
keep up my studies ; but I persevered, working faithfully, and as 
a result was offered a good position by the superintendent. The 
experience which I went through during the past three years, 
money could not buy. It was a hard struggle at the outset, but 
prospects for the future look brighter. 

"I have learned that nothing is impossible to him who wills, 
that honesty and strict adherence to duty, combined -with self- 
respect and a proper regard for your fellow-men are rure to win 
in the end. But what impressed me most was the fact that if one 
is true to God, He will not be outdone in generosity, but will re- 
pay his servant a hundred-fold." 

Many of the communications from the students differ little 
from each other, as they came from those who earned considerable 
money during their course by carrying papers. These students 
will pardon me, I am sure, if I fail to publish their letters, and 
if I introduce one which is more varied in its details, and hence 
more interesting to the general reader. I can not, however, omit 
an episode in the life of one who assured me that the most 
difficult duty of those engaged in delivering papers was the col- 
lecting on Saturday. This task is not only annoying, but is at 
times attended with personal danger. Our student having called 
at a certain house, and made two fruitless attempts to get his 
money, became somewhat angered. The landlady finding that he 
refused to go away until she paid him, undertook to eject him by 
force ; she proved a more potent warrior than our friend had anti- 
cipated. He fell from the steps of the porch upon the brick side- 
walk. Before he could recover lost ground, the attacking party 



238 PLUCKY BOYS. 

charged upon him with a mop-brush, while other belligerent 
members of the family hurled various missiles from the windows. 
On the following morning the student wore a rather dejected look 
and had some difficulty in convincing the Prefect of Discipline 
that he had not been indulging in intoxicating liquor. 

Many of the students deHvered papers because it was a task 
that interfered least with their studies and at the same time 
brought sufficient income to pay for board. That this occupation 
can be joined with success in the class room is evident from' the 
following incident. A Father who was visiting at the college a 
few days after the commencement exercises in 1901, stopped one 
afternoon to buy a paper, for which he offered to pay. 

"I never charge the Fathers from the college," was the 
answer which he received as he laid down a dime on the table. 

"And how do you know that I am from the college ?" 

"I saw you there yesterday. Father." 

"Does this work interfere with your studies ?" 

"No, Father; I find it good relaxation." 

"Well, study hard and try to do well in your class," said the 
priest wishing to repay his benefactor at least by some words of 
good advice. 

"I was leader in my class last year; see, here is the medal," 
and with these words the student, unbuttoning his coat, proudly 
displayed a gold medal which he wore upon his vest. 

On returning to the college the reverend visitor related the 
incident to some members of the faculty ; he was pleased to have 
met one who not only supported himself during the year, but had 
also won the honors of his class. 

3. "In the early part of the summer of 1894 I began to think 
that perhaps I could attend the teachers' institute, get a certificate 
and teach school. I mentioned the subject to my father only to 
be laughed at and told that I was too young and weak, and that 
r had best wait a few years. At this juncture providence favored 
me with a spell of sickness. Recovering in time to attend the 
teachers' institute I was permitted to do so, partly because I was 
not strong enough to work in the fields, and partly because my 
father wanted to humor me. I passed my examination and got a 
third grade certificate. I have only to add that I was prouder of 



PLUCKY BOYS. 239 

it than any other document which has come my way since that 
time. 

"With this paper in my inside pocket I rode around the 
country applying for the schools made -vacant by the faikire of 
other appHcants in their examination. Many a laugh did my 
folks at home enjoy on hearing accounts of a day's experience; 
but they laughed still more when one evening I rode home with a 
contract for a little school. I have often wondered how I hap- 
pened to get that school, since rural directors judge so much by 
appearances, and I looked a great deal like Ichabod Crane, except 
Ichabod had the advantage of me in height. I was afterwards 
told that a lady in the neighborhood had described me as, 'a kid 
that looked like he was about fourteen years old and half dead 
with consumption.' 

"On the eleventh day of September, and just three days 
before my eighteenth birthday, I started out for my temple of 
truth and bulwark of freedom, a dingy country school-house, 
carrying the first volume of Hillard's American Law under my 
arm. While teaching I drilled myself to systematic study and 
regular hours. When vacation came I divided my time between 
my father's farm, an attorney's office and the teachers' institute. 
I got a second grade certificate at the examination that summer 
and a first grade the summer after. I continued to teach and study 
law until I was of age, when I passed my examination and was 
admitted to the bar. ^ 

"Then I was sorely tempted to enter upon the practice of law; 
but I realized that my education acquired piece-meal was incom- 
plete, unsystematic and disconnected, and felt that I needed a 
college training. I decided to take the spring and summer courses 
at the State University and teach another year. My short course 
at the Missouri University was eminently satisfactory and I should 
have continued there but for the necessity of 'replenishing the 
gold reserve.' I finally landed in Nebraska, where I again taught 
a district school and during the vacation secured employment in 
the office of a country newspaper. I wanted to go back to the 
University of Missouri ; but knew that Columbia, the seat of the 
University, afforded no advantages for a student to earn all or a 
part of his expenses. I came to Creighton against the advice of 
some friends who told me that 'the Jesuits, although they pro- 



240 PLUCKY BOYS. 

fessed to be great teachers of Latin and Greek, were not up-to- 
date even in that.' I belonged to the Missouri State Teachers' 
Club, and heard a great deal about being up-to-date. Since then 
I have become convinced that being up-to-date, according to some 
teachers, means the adoption of the latest whims and fancies of 
pedagogic cranks. Besides, I could not see why men who spent 
their whole life in educational work should not be as thoroughly 
modern in all that pertains to teaching as any one else. If there 
is one thing more than another which I have learned to admire 
in the Jesuits, it is the dignified manner in which they hold aloof 
from adopting the passing fads of would-be educational reformers. 
"With my work in the Creighton University I am better 
pleased than I expected to be, although I expected much. Nor 
am I disappointed with the city. I am making my own expenses, 
and at the same time am receiving a good education." 

We shall give but one more letter. It comes from a student 
who was forced to leave school during spring for lack of means. 
As he had gleaned some information about mining he asked for 
recommendations and started for Butte, Montana. He earned 
three and a half dollars a day and was thus able to return to 
college in the following September. 

"Now I am acclimated, inured to hard labor, and accustomed 
to sleeping by days and eating cold lunch out of a tin pail at mid- 
night. * * * The first of May was in every respect a May day. 
We came up at seven o'clock as usual for supper ; it was the first 
pleasant evening of the season. We stood upon the hillside while 
the sun slowly sank in majestic beauty behind sky-towering moun- 
tains in the west ; and shadows ascended the snowy heights in the 
east, driving the last lingering rays upward to a few scattered 
clouds where they paused for a moment, then vanished ; and day 
darkened into night. 

"When we came up at eleven o'clock the scene was sublime. 
Bright stars twinkled over the dull white distant ranges ; the mol- 
ten metal and roaring flames in the furnaces far below cast a lurid 
light and tinted smoke heavenward, making the surrounding 
shadows seem deep and weird. A few winged demons flitting 



PLUCKY BOYS. 24 1 

about in the sulphur fumes would have completed a vision of the 
'Inferno.' 

"I have fulfilled my promise of writing you a few verses, or 
rather I have written an apology for my neglect." 



AN APOLOGY. 

With weary limbs and eyes grown dim, 

With features soiled by labor, 
In this deep recess, in faded dress, 

I sought the muse's favor. 

That timid sprite took hasty flight 

And let me stand dumfounded; 
If none inspire, I fear the lyre 

Will ne'er by me be sounded. 

Where shovels ring and dull picks cling 

Near lights that faintly flicker; 
Where blasts resound through hollow ground, 

And speed Death's message quicker; 

In all this place there's not a trace 

Of muse or muse's doing, 
No murmured sounds or laugh resounds ; 

There is none with nature wooing. 



Courage the Fulcrum. 




Fac pedem figat et terram movebit. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 

ON this point Mr. F. G. Dinneen says: "The boys, always 
very well disposed towards the faculty in general, 
showed it more by action than by word. They were not given to 
flattery. There was too much of natural, rugged honesty to per- 
mit such a course. But when there was something to be done 
that required generous effort, when there was an opportunity to 
lend a helping hand, they gave unmistakable evidence of their 
good will. In addition to what has been said about oratory and 
dramatics, I shall give another example. In order to enhance the 
utility of the library and to conduct it according to improved 
and up-to-date methods the Library Association determined to 
make a catalogue. The Dewey system was selected as the most 
practical and perfect as well as the one most generally adopted by 
the large libraries of the country. In the beginning few realized 
the magnitude of the undertaking. But once they had put their 
hand to the plow there was no turning back. The work was 
strange, tedious and naturally distasteful to the boys so much con- 
fined to the class room. But they brushed aside these difficulties 
like men. They were quick to grasp the explanation of the 
system, and once they understood it they were able to apply it 
with little direction. The only available time was the recrea- 
tion days. It was asking no small sacrifice of boys to expect them 
to give up their free time. But there was no need of asking ; they 
themselves had voted the enterprise into being and they were deter- 
mined to see it through. Volunteers came forward in plenty, and 
it was no uncommon thing to see twenty-five students gathered 
in the library on a recreation day or after class doing the work 
usually performed by professional librarians." 

Almost innumerable incidents have shown the abiding good 
will of both past and present students toward their Alma Ma- 

(243) 



244 WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 

ter. One young man shortly after his graduation presented $ioo 
to his quondam professor of philosophy, saying that this was the 
first money he had earned and he felt proud to give it to an insti- 
tution to which he owed so much. Another who won $25.00 in an 
oratorical contest, at once handed it over to the Rector as an 
evidence of his grateful feeling. Another who was employed to 
do some typewriting confided to his chum the disinclination he 
felt to accept anything for his service, because this might be the 
only chance he would ever have of showing his appreciation. One 
parent wrote thus: "I intended calling on you personally, but 
found no opportunity, and as my son and I are going away to- 
morrow I write this note to express to you my gratification at 
the splendid progress my son has made at the college during the 
past year, which I know is largely due to the excellent teachers 
under whom he has studied. I also desire to express my heart- 
felt appreciation of the privilege granted me of sending my son, 
a Protestant of a Protestant family, to your school without fee or 
reward; this is one of the many examples of Christian charity 
for which your Church has been noted for centuries, and I 
thoroughly appreciate it. When my son returns we shall take 
great pleasure in calling upon you and expressing these sentiments 
in person." Without any provocation, but his own sense of obli- 
gation a Protestant alumnus wrote : "I shall ever be grateful for 
the courtesies and kindness and the benefits bestowed upon me by 
the Creighton University and I trust that I shall remember this 
institution in her needs should I ever be sufficiently blessed with 
worldly goods." These are but a few instances of recent occur- 
rence, which happened since this sketch was begun ; but many 
such have shown that Creightonians feel that the University has 
done well by them. 

The latest exhibition of these kindly sentiments is found in 
the following circular embodying a scheme for affording financial 
help. It was set in motion by two graduates now in the East 
either studying or practicing law. 

'"''to the alumni of CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY. 

"It occurred to a number of old students of Creighton 
gathered from all parts of the country in Omaha last summfer, 
that they had left a duty unperformed. They were all greatly 



WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 245 

impressed with the change from the Old to the New Creighton, 
so marked that all familiar landmarks were lost in the merger of 
the old and the new. It was surely very gratifying after an ab- 
sence of so few years to return and find what push with financial 
aid has done in the way of upbuilding Creighton, in increasing 
her numbers and in fostering an esprit de corps. There was occa- 
sion to again thank Count John A. Creighton, who never tires, 
it seems, in helping Creighton. 

"The query suggested itself why should so much of the bur- 
den rest upon him. The example of some of the schools was cited. 
It was told how for example at Princeton each outgoing class 
organized and each man pledged himself to contribute a sum 
yearly, which at the decennial of the class, is presented to the Uni- 
versity. It is but a few months ago since this same Princeton 
spirit was shown at President Wilson's inauguration when ground 
was broken for a dormitory presented by the president's class- 
mates. It was remembered also how President Hadley of Yale 
collected above a million dollars for Yale's Bicentennial. In- 
stances might easily be multiplied. In fact, it was this spirit of 
pride in and love for the Alma Mater, that transformed 
Harvard, Yale, Princeton and others, from the small schools of 
the 6o's to the great universities of today. 

"The question that the casual meeting in Omaha discussed 
was, what is the matter with Creighton? If Princetonians 
and others, after paying for everything in course, feel that there 
is a major debt owing, why should not the men who have received 
benefit from Creighton, do something for her in turn? Every 
one at the meeting was heartily in favor of lending a helping hand, 
and every one approached subsequently, approved ; hence this let- 
ter to make the scope of the college wider. It is believed that 
every one who ever went to Creighton long enough to even get a 
start in educational life will feel that he owes something to her, 
which it is a duty considered as tuition, and a privilege, out of 
gratitude, to repay. 

"Now for the scheme : It is proposed in the future to have 
each outgoing class organize before graduation, arrange for year- 
ly contributions for a fund which in ten years will be presented 
to the university for a purpose to be designated by the donors. A 
class of eighteen, each contributing a minimum of say ten dollars. 



246 WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 

a year in ten years would amass a fund of more than $2,000. The 
result would be a permanent income to the university of about 
$2,000, which might be used to assist needy young men, establish 
scholarships, etc., in general, increasing the sphere of the univer- 
sity's usefulness. The total cost to each man on the above basis 
would be less than a year's tuition. 

"For the men who are already grads or 'exs' some other plan 
is necessary. The most feasible one, it was decided, was to have 
trustees receive contributions, and invest the fund, and when com- 
pleted, turn it over to the University. The Hon. C. J. Smyth, 
Ex. Atty. Gen., and Thos. J. McShane, '99, have kindly consented 
to act as trustees. For convenience in keeping accounts it was 
deemed advisable to send out the within notes, which will enable 
the trustees to know from whom to expect the yearly installments 
and to remind the contributors when installments fall due. They 
are so drawn, of course, as to negative any legal liability what- 
soever. 

"To protect the contributors, the trustee arrangement has 
been approved by the President of Creighton University, has been 
agreed to by the Trustees and an indemnity bond is to be given 
the University. It only remains to consider the amount to be 
pledged. The unanimous opinion is that there should be neither 
m.inim.um nor maximum, each one being urged to remember 
Creighton according to his means. 

"The undersigned have taken it upon themselves, in view of 
the impossibility of organization, to send out this letter. Having 
at heart the interest of Creighton, conscious of benefits received, 
and hopeful in the spirit of Creightonians, each one pledges him- 
self to contribute towards the fund to be known as the Alumni 
Fund of Creighton University. It need hardly be said that the 
College authorities bid it good-speed, though the suggestion, di- 
rection and ultimate goal of the fund are wholly a student affair. 

Hon. C. J. Smyth, Omaha. 
Thos. J. McShane, '99, Omaha. 
W. J. Coad, '99, Omaha. 
J. T. Smith, '99, N. Y. City. 
E. V. Krug, '00, St. Louis. 
Omaha, Neb., 1902. 



WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 247 

"The Trustees urge all who are disposed to contribute to send 
to them as soon as convenient a copy of the pledge, in order that 
the scheme may be put upon a working basis at the earliest possi- 
ble date. 

Further information may be obtained by writing to any o£ 
the following: 

Rev. Chas, Coppens, S. J., Creighton University. 

C. J. Smyth, N. Y. Life Bldg., Omaha. 

J. T. Smith, 120 Broadway, N. Y. City." 

Accompanying this circular is a form of non-negotiable note, 
or a promise which can be revoked at any time, and which ex- 
pressly states that no legal obligation attaches thereto. 

When this book of reminiscences was first planned, the Pro- 
fessor of Philosophy mailed to some of the alumni the following 
circular letter. 

"Dear Sir : To obtain some desirable data for a forth-coming 
volume of reminiscences of this institution, we are addressing 
this communication to a number of our former students whose ex- 
perience will enable them to furnish answers to all or to some of 
the following questions. We shall consider it a favor to your 
Alma Mater to receive from you replies to as many of the ques- 
tions as possible. Any other information or suggestions will be 
thankfully received." 

1. How available did you find your course at Creighton as 
a practical preparation for life? 

2. Are you satisfied with it on the whole? 

3. What studies have you found most useful? 

4. What change would you suggest in the curriculum to 
make it rnore useful as a preparation for a future career? 

5. What success have you met with? To what do you at- 
tribute it? 

6. How are you now employed? 

7. What is your present outlook? 

8. What efifect has the attention paid to religion during your 
college course had on your after life ? 



248 WHAT STUDENTS THINK OF CREIGHTON. 

9. How do the studies at Creighton differ from those pur- 
sued at other colleges? 

10. How do our boys differ from those of other colleges ? 

11. Are the students of non-Catholic colleges superior or in- 
ferior to ours in anything? 

12. Have the students of non-Catholic colleges any helps that 
ours have not, etc., etc." 

This letter had the effect of bringing the Faculty intimately 
in touch with the old students, from whom they learned what 
were the real opinions of former Creightonians about the course i 
of studies. All who replied were pleased with this evidence of 
confidence and regard and hailed it as a note of progress. Since 
they were not asked to allow the use of their names, quotations 
from their letters must be made, without any indication of the 
authorship. The passages selected are taken from the suggestive! 
and critical contributions rather than those expressing perfect 
satisfaction with Creighton. It will be observed that even the 
criticisms are couched in most respectful language and show af- 
fectionate loyalty. They also give proof of manly thought and 
mental virility unusual in young men ; and on that account Creigh- 
ton has no reason to be ashamed of her sons. The reader must 
bear with a little repetition, in order that the thoughts of several 
writers may be set forth fully in their own words. The authors 
are distinguished from each other by numbers. The consider- 
ation of these letters requires a separate chapter. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

THE following are some of the answers to questions proposed 
in the preceding chapter. 

I. I have at hand your circular letter of July 3rd, and was 
greatly gratified to receive the same. The questions asked seem 
to me to indicate a spirit which can not but result in much good 
to our Alma Mater and to allied institutions. 

After leaving Creighton I spent four years at Harvard Uni- 
versity. During that time I exerted some influence there in start- 
ing a Catholic club. The members came from all parts of Amer- 
ica, and received their preparatory education in all sorts of insti- 
tutions. During these years nothing interested me more than a 
study of what naturally would be an answer to the questions in 
your letter. To answer them carefully as they should be answered 
would require much more time than I am able now to devote to 
them, as I am at present burdened with work which requires my 
time practically night and day. In one or two months I expect 
to be more at leisure. In the meantime I can not neglect express- 
ing my appreciation of your method of obtaining facts, and in 
enlivening an interest among the old boys which can not but cause 
them to feel a renewed interest in the University. 

I recall opinions expressed at various times to Fathers in the 
east, that, in failing to arouse enthusiasm in their graduates, our 
Jesuit Colleges neglected opportunities which would be of great 
benefit to them. In large Eastern Colleges we see gathered year- 
ly on Commencement Day, thousands of graduates. This shows 
that their love for their Alma Mater did not cease with their grad- 
uation. It would be interesting to learn how and by what means 
this enthusiasm is maintained and to study further what the re- 
sult of such enthusiasm is in the way of endowments and moral 
and financial support. 

(249) 



2 50 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

Though the last five questions of your circular interest me 
greatly, I shall take time to answer but one, the 8th. I have found 
the attention paid to religion during my course at Creighton of 
incalculable benefit both during the years I spent at Harvard and 
since I have entered active hfe. During my stay at Cambridge, 
I lived at Divinity Hall, which housed also some 60 or 70 divinity 
students, representing ten different denominations. I knew most 
of them intimately, and our friendship naturally resulted in much 
friendly discussion on religious topics, involving Catholic doc- 
trines. During those days and ever since I have appreciated dear- 
ly the thorough religious training which I received during my 
years with the Jesuits. Never for a moment has my interest in 
our institutions lagged. To criticise them without offering some 
suggestion or means of improvement does not become a sincere 
Catholic; yet, I believe there are changes that might be made in 
our Catholic Colleges to meet the requirements of present condi- 
tions which would entail no concessions whatever of the truths 
which are dear to us, but which would prove of great benefit fi- 
nancially, and would also result in making our Jesuit colleges pop- 
ular and attractive to the young American. 

You will pardon me for mentioning incidentally something 
which should not be stated to any except those who have a 
right to know. It is my opinion that there has been exhibited in 
the way of criticism of our non-sectarian, or, as they should be 
more properly called, polydenominational institutions, by men 
who should know better, woful igornance of the true state of 
affairs and of the policies of those institutions. I have in mind 
at present an article which appeared a few years ago. It was 
narrow-minded, unjust and founded upon certain assumptions 
which did not accord with facts. 

I would be delighted to assist you in your present efforts to 
obtain information which will surely be fruitful of good results. 
If I can be of any service to you I shall be glad of the oppor- 
tunity to lend my efforts to a cause which is dear to me. 

2. The course at Creighton I found to be as good as that at 
any other college. My opportunities for observation have been 
somewhat extended as in the law school I met many graduates of 
Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Princeton, Northwestern and other 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 251 

schools, and aside from the httle additional prestige given a man 
by the fact of his having received a degree from larger and better 
known universities, the course at Creighton is just as good, I 
should say, as that of those schools. On that account I am 
pleased with it. 

The studies which were the most useful to me were, I have 
no doubt logic and philosophy. I believe they impart a readiness 
of perception and a power of reasoning which is of the greatest 
value to the lawyer. I do not claim, of course, to have attained 
these very desirable qualities, but whatever advancement I have 
made toward them, I attribute mainly to these studies. Second 
to philosophy, I think Latin has been of the greatest service to 
me. Its extended use in the early history of the law has left its 
imprint upon the terminology and through the terminology, upon 
the substance of the law, so that a knowledge of Latin, at least 
enough for etymological purposes, is almost a necessity for an ad- 
equate understanding of many branches and an invaluable aid in 
all of them. 

It may appear presumptuous in me to suggest changes in a 
course which in its essential elements has met the commendation 
of centuries, but first, I would suggest that a change be made in 
the arrangement of the courses as published. I am led to make 
this suggestion by my own experience at the Northwestern 
University. After the completion of my law school course, I ap- 
plied for registration for work leading to the degree of A. M. 
and as a condition precedent to registration, was required to show 
that I had received the A. B. from a college in which the require- 
ments for the degree were equivalent to those at Northwestern, 
The Committee of graduate registration had never before had oc- 
casion to pass upon any Creighton graduate applying for regis- 
tration, and consequently I was required to furnish them with a 
copy of the course of study. The system of arrangement in use 
in the catalogues of most schools, including many Catholic schools, 
is to print the courses under the different branches of studies in- 
stead of under the different years. The courses are lettered or 
numbered and have a value calculated upon the amount of class 
work done in each, using one hour a week during a term as a 
basis. A certain number of these 'term hours' as they are called, 
120 I think, are required for graduation and certain denominated 



252 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

courses are prescribed as necessary for certain degrees, the re- 
mainder of the credits to be obtained in courses elected by the 
student, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. 

In the Creighton catalogue the course is divided into years, 
Philosophy, Rhetoric, Poetry, etc. Would it be departing 
too far from sacred traditions to suggest, that for the sake of 
uniformity and the convenience of students passing to other 
schools, the years be changed to Freshman, Sophomore, Junior 
and Senior ? Moreover, the catalogue does not state how many 
hours a week are given to the different studies, but only that cer- 
tain work is seen. As authors are seen much more rapidly 
(though not so thoroughly) in other schools, an incorrect idea 
is given of the actual time devoted to the various branches. I 
suggest that the Creighton catalogue be brought into uniformity 
with the catalogues of other colleges, so that its students, both 
graduate and under-graduate, may know just what credits to 
claim when they enter other schools. 

Another question of which much might be said is the much- 
mooted question of 'electives.' From a perusal of a few of the 
pamphlets recently issued upon the question, I fear that I am 
somewhat, but not wholly, at variance with the Jesuit view. 
When I say that, I believe that with students of a certain degree 
of maturity, the judicious permission of electives, after certain 
prescribed courses, is beneficial. I recognize the evil of too much 
liberty in election, and I do not leave out of account the mental 
discipline to be acquired from a course which would at the same 
time impart information which might be turned to account im- 
mediately or ultimately. In my line of work this question is 
probably not so important, because there is no matter of human 
knowledge which the lawyer may not at some time find to be of 
account to him. 

I can not say with the cool self-congratulation of the Roman, 
'Exegi monumentum,' but I have chosen a profession in which 
success, as measured by dollars and renown, comes only as the 
recompense of years of toil ; and we have the examples of the 
greatest jurists to prove that in the legal profession there is no 
royal road to success in the larger sense of the word. But I hope 
I do not offend against modesty when I say, that while I would 
consider myself lacking in ambition were I content with my pre- 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 253 

sent advancement, I believe that I have made fair progress. 
When I graduated at Creighton I lacked a month of 17 years, and 
sometimes I regret that I was not older, because, 'Knowledge 
comes, but Wisdom lingers,' and one is more benefited by studies, 
at least those of a philosophical order, when he has arrived at a 
certain maturity of thought, which I believe only comes with 
years, no matter how one may have advanced in literary or 
scientific studies. At present, I am practicing law in partnership 
with my father. I was admitted in June, 1900, after three years' 
course at the Northwestern University Law School. For two 
years after my graduation at Creighton, I was out of school. We 
are now enjoying a fair business, making the necessaries of life 
in an expensive city to live in, and managing to hold on to a few 
of the luxuries, so that while providence might have been more 
lavish in her favors, I have no reason to complain of niggardliness. 

I do not claim, to belong to the "unco guid," but I make bold 
to say that I might consider myself a CathoHc. My associates and 
friends are largely Catholic. I hear Mass every Sunday, frequent 
the Sacraments occasionally, have made the Jubilee (partly, I 
must confess, because it was easily done in our parish.) Whether 
this has been due to any religious training received at Creighton, 
to the influence of my parents, or because this is almost a Catholic 
city, or above all to the saving grace of the Almighty, I can not 
say, but I merely state the fact that I still consider myself a mem- 
ber of the Church. 

Among the Creighton boys I do not think there is the same 
esprit de corps that is very noticeable among the graduates of 
other schools, and I believe this applies to Jesuit alumni, gen- 
erally. The tenacity with which other college men, especially 
Harvard men, stick to one another is something remarkable. 
The fact that you are from Harvard stamps you as 'all right,' 
and unless you have the trade-mark you may be able and intelli- 
gent and all that, but you are not of the elect. True, this savors 
of narrowness and is undemocratic, perhaps, in its tendencies — 
but to quote a document which will probably carry weight 
"aequum est et a majoribus institutum ut qui ingenio et doctrina 
ceteris praestant, merita, qua secernantur ab illiteratis, insigni- 
antur, laurea, etc." 



254 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

3. Whilst satisfied with Creighton on the whole, I can not say 
that I am satisfied with every thing as it is, because time urges 
more and more upon me the conviction that education, as well as 
everything else, necessarily changes as a result of time and 
experience. The older we grow the more we learn, applies, I 
believe to education. You may wonder what I am driving at. 
Perhaps you already surmise it is a sanguine youngster hurling 
his shaft at conservatism. I do venture the assertion that 
Creighton is too conservative, too prone to hold fast to a thing 
because it is hoary with time, and too suspicious of what is new. 
Perhaps this results from the law of nature that great bodies move 
slowly. It is true, too, that great advantages flow from it. But 
I confess that nothing caused me to admire Yale more than the 
freedom with which methods and studies were criticised, and how 
quickly a good idea is caught up if it be vital, though it may be 
adopted, only after it has been sifted thoroughly. 

The most useful of my studies have been English and Latin, 
but mathematics molts no feather. If it were mine to change the 
curriculum, you might think me drastic. First, and indispen- 
sably, I would require a modern language, French, German, or 
Spanish, continued through every one of the four college years. 
And I would require of every language that was considered 
worth studying, some knowledge of its literature, not merely one 
or two of its books ; else one vital element in mind building, 
literary culture, is wholly lacking. I think this is one of the most 
deplorable results of the conservatism I complained of, that Jesuit 
schools should so long be closed to modern languages, when all 
other colleges are open to them and give them greater importance 
each year. It is the lack of a modern language that gives rise 
to my greatest regret concerning Creighton. 

I would also introduce economics without which one can 
hardly understand the laws of commerce which take the lead in 
the world of to-day. History and English might easily be im- 
proved by extensive courses in the history of the periods and men 
that blocked out the mile-stones in the march of the world. That 
is, of course, the study should be based like the course in law, 
primarily on the time the student should spend in acquiring and 
not in exposing the knowledge acquired. This may seem 
chimerical, but to it is due the success of those colleges, which. 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 255 

as Newman said of Oxford, have produced our great men. 
Many, though they study but Httle, derive considerable culture, 
and more than ordinary appreciation of men and things from 
their teachers, fellows, and surroundings. Ask any one who 
had Father Weir at Creighton, and he will tell you that in his 
year the work of three other years was accomplished, as much by 
the method as by the man. I would hardly be justified in being 
satisfied until every year is like that. I believe too that some pro- 
vision should be made for the men who come in from the country 
prepared in everything but Greek. They should be permitted to 
go on and ofifer some sufficiently difficult subject for Greek. 
As it is, they descend to the classes made up of youngsters, or go 
some place else. Creighton needs them and a dash of Greek is not 
a sine qua non of an A. B. 

Lastly, I shall welcome the day — and it must come before 
Creighton will in fact be a power among universities — when the 
enfans terribles in Knickerbocker, who yearly invade Creighton 
and perpetually strive to keep it on the level of the high school, will 
be kept somewhere else, separate and apart, in secondary schools. 
The mixture does damage to both. So every Creightonian says, 
'Floreat Schola Infantium alibi !' And I say may the Good Lord 
speed the day ! 

My success has been academic, a prize or two and a summa 
cum laude. I attribute this little success to the preliminary equip- 
ment I got at Creighton, to a good memory, and to work and the 
spirit of work as well as the ideal of work which Creighton gave 
me, and the ambition I have carried along with me to bring out 
what is in me. My present outlook is problematical, in the 
sense that I am experimenting and time enough has not elapsed to 
prognosticate. But I may hope. 

T have often wondered whether at a certain age and over, it 
would not be better to put men on their honor rather than under 
some one's eye. This is a suggestion, not a conclusion. But it 
would surprise you how much real morality there may be at a 
college that gets a name for looseness from the outer fringe. 
If men when entering average 18, a great many college res- 
traints might be dropped. Should it work, the increased respon- 
sibility lived up to is a considerable help towards moral duty. 

In other colleges, one man teaches one subject, or at most 



256 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

two, the idea being to make teachers experts. Consequently the 
studies are more varied, and are gone into more extensively. I shall 
not omit what I consider a very important result flowing from this, 
that only a few hours are given to recitations, the bulk of a 
student's time being taken for preparation. They average only 
two hours a day. And yet students can do more than they have 
time for. The Creighton boys are younger, equally gifted with 
brains, but I think we are handicapped by the refinement found 
in other colleges. This we are not very proficient in. Of course, 
the causes are obvious, and time and tact will help us out in 
this very necessary accomplishment, and one not esteemed at its 
worth by most Creightonians. 

The students of some non-Catholic colleges are superior in 
the confidence born of attendance at a great and ancient univer- 
sity, in themselves, their families, and their futures, as a result 
of which they manage with but ordinary abilities to get along 
with honor and credit, where without it they would fail. More- 
over they have wealth, position and social opportunities ; then 
they and theirs are older in education than most of our young 
men are. The fault is not ours, and it will take time to equalize us ; 
but our colleges can do much, and their task is far from easy. 

It is painfully evident that Catholic education is rated quite 
low in this country; equally true is it that Catholic young men 
succeed well in non-Catholic colleges ; then, why the mean esti- 
mation of Catholic colleges? I think it is merited in the lines 
indicated by me, though, of course, some of its best features are 
ignored. It comes, I think, from the ultra-conservatism and too 
great sanctity given to the Ratio Studiorum, and not enough to 
honest criticism. You may well say I am nothing, if not critical, 
and so I am. But if I have been honest with myself and with 
you that will more than atone for the unenviable epithet. It is 
not the result of any 'stuffing' from Yale, but the fruit of some 
earnest thought of my own during the last few years. It has led 
me to say what I thought rather than what would flatter Creigh- 
ton. And yet, let me say that school-mates of mine who went 
through Yale did not outdistance me in the Law School and I 
never regret that the four years at Creighton were not spent else- 
where. I feel how much I owe to her — you men who sacrificed 
so much for us. But this doesn't keep me from pleading for the 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 257 

summum bonum in education, in its ceaseless effort to better the 
method and the man ; therein lies the success of Protestant edu- 
cation. 

4. When first I entered the Harvard Class one thing struck 
me very forcibly ; and that was their fluency in speaking and more 
especially the correct use of words. My first solution was that 
probably they had had more practice in speaking before a gather- 
ing of men. Yet the facts did not support the apparent solution. 
I was then desirous of making an investigation ; first we, some 
Jesuit boys, compared the output of the Harvard and the Jesuit 
colleges, and the result was the admission of their superiority in 
the use of the language. This result was mentioned in a conversa- 
tion held lately with a member of your Society, and the explana- 
tion of it was quite plausible ; that the men attending Harvard 
came from different environments, where better English is pre- 
sumably spoken and where the children are corrected at an early 
age. This was quite satisfactory, but it might be of some value 
to note the result of my investigation. This investigation was 
into their English course, which consists of two lectures a week; 
and every day each member of the class was required to hand in 
one page of a composition on subjects given out by the professor; 
once every two weeks each student met either the professor or one 
of his assistants in private consultation, which generally lasted 
from half an hour to an hour, and these compositions were re- 
viewed and their weaknesses shown. This seems to me a very 
good method of teaching English and it should be replete with 
very good results. I am told that the same course was commenced 
last year, in the junior class in Creighton College. If so, I have 
entire confidence in the equality of Creighton men with any other 
college in the country. During the last two years I have had a 
splendid opportunity to compare the merits of the different col- 
leges. Here we meet men from nearly all the prominent insti- 
tutions in America, and Creighton, though a small place, stands 
on an equality with the best. If Harvard surpasses her in the 
greater fluency of language, Creighton and the Jesuit colleges 
surpass the others in the formation of analytic minds. 

5. Three hours every day for a month would be better than 
one hour twice a week for a year. Still in justice to Creighton 
I must say that other colleges which insist more strongly on sci- 



258 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

ence do but very little better. In a crowd of twenty-five medical 
students, half of whom were college graduates, but one dared to 
say he knew the difference between a galvanic and faradic battery. 
In my opinion it is the business of a college like Creighton, not 
to teach science, but to train the mind, to develop the literary and 
oratorical ability of her students, to give them a correct taste, and 
last, but not least, a firm anchor of Jesuit conservatism to prevent 
their life barks from being tossed about by every ridiculous theory 
that a pseudo-scientist may invent. I am far from believing that 
every theory formulated by scientists is ridiculous. Though in 
some theories I have broken away from what I was taught, I have 
not lost my admiration for the Jesuits' way of regarding innova- 
tions. Conservatism is usually right, and always dignified; the 
opposite quality is sometimes brilliant but mostly ridiculous. 

It is the moral and religious training, however, that gives 
Creighton her pre-eminence over non-Catholic institutions. Edu- 
cation is a dangerous thing. Especially is this true in the case of 
the man whose moral nature has not been trained with his intel- 
lect. Nowhere is this done so adequately as in our Catholic schools 
and colleges. The Catholic school is' one of the few places on 
earth where the teller of the smutty story among boys is not gen- 
erally regarded as either a hero or a wit. Nowhere are obscene 
literature and pictures so scarce. Nowhere is profanity so un- 
common. The prayer before and after class is a beautiful cus- 
tom. So is the custom of attending Mass daily. It is open to 
the possible objection, however, that the attendance is compul- 
sory, that the boys attend too often merely because they are com- 
pelled to do so ; or the fact that they are compelled, leads them to 
think they are relieved of the obligation to hear Mass with proper 
devotion; and thus they get into the habit of thinking of their 
studies and other similar matters while present at this solemn sac- 
rifice. Perhaps some of them never hear Mass properly for the 
rest of their lives as a result of the habit formed at college. The 
boys at a place like Creighton are said by those acquainted with 
the facts to be much more trustworthy and self-reliant and to have 
more self-respect than those at boarding-colleges, where they are 
more immediately under the direction of a prefect. I am sure that 
every student remembers the Sodality with greater pleasure, from 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 259 

the fact that there was httle compulsion about it, its exercises were 
short, and were performed with an edifying spirit of devotion. 

Here I might tnention some of the things of which the aver- 
age student is ignorant. He is not very sure about the essential 
parts of the Mass. He does not know when to sit, stand or kneel 
during it. He does not know the consecutive mysteries well 
enough to lead in the rosary on short notice or without a book. 
He does not know what prayers are appropriate for the dying or 
the dead, or where to find out. In such little nooks and corners 
ignorance hides. I room here at a house in charge of the Y. M. 
C. A. I am the only Catholic here. I am very careful that none 
of the boys see my scapular. I have forgotten why I wear it and 
could not properly explain if they asked me. I know I wear it in 
honor of Our Lady, and I expect her to protect me in a special 
way while I do so, that it is a beautiful custom among Catholics ; 
this much I could tell them. But whether St. Dominic was con- 
nected with its institution or that of the rosary I have forgotten. 
I could not tell them as much as I should like if they betrayed any 
curiosity as to the origin of the custom. I have no books here but 
my medical books, have an opportunity to speak to a Catholic only 
in confession. Of course, I am ashamed of myself and know that 
I should not have forgotten, but this is a letter whose purpose is 
to blame not myself, but my Alma Mater for everything I can 
think of that has the least show of reason. I call attention to these 
little details merely because I wish my Alma Mater well and have 
no other feeling towards her than the deepest love and gratitude. 
I know as much about my religion as the average graduate, and 
needless to say, I am ashamed of none of her customs, unless it 
be the custom of collecting ten cents for a seat in church on Sun- 
day. Even here I consider the provocation, and admit the obliga- 
tion I would be under to keep silence, if I had not always paid my 
pew-rent since I left college. 

6. I was delighted to hear from you and to sit once more in 
fancy listening to the sage advice to which I attribute much of 
whatever success I may have obtained, and from which I hope to 
gain much in the years that are to come. If you could have been 
with me at Boston College on the first Sunday of this month, and 
have attended the Mass said for the Alumni Sodality, you would 
have realized how difficult it now is for me to sufficiently thank 



260 GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 

you and your co-laborers for all you have done for me. We gath- 
ered in a dainty little chapel on the second floor. Around the 
walls ran large oil paintings of the saints, and in one end of the 
room was the altar, small, it is true, but reflecting in its chaste 
white and gold the simplicity of the order under whose care it 
was my good fortune to be now reposing. There were perhaps a 
hundred men in the room which could not but impress a Catholic 
most favorably. Most of them were at or past middle life ; some 
of them were well on the downward journey. Stylishly attired, 
intelligence fairly beaming from their faces, they seemed the van 
guard that they are, of Catholicity in this portion of the world. 
All college graduates, they were not ashamed of the religion 
which is thought only fit for women and ignorant men, and as we 
all sang the simple hymns during the Mass I was impressed with 
Catholicity in a manner which has heretofore escaped me. There 
was something so devotional in this gathering of solid business 
and professional men who had come in out of the fight, as it were, 
to pray, that I could not but feel as I had never felt before, the 
reasonableness of Catholicity. Example is well said to be more 
potent than precept. If one never sees any but old, and for the 
most part ignorant men in the church, it is but a small jump to 
the conclusion that the church is fit only for such people; but to 
thus witness the manifestation of an educated community's docil- 
ity in its intellectual leaders to the truths of a church is to learn 
a new and unanswerable argument for the teachings of that 
church. The Director preached effectively, not a dogmatic ser- 
mon, but a plain simple story which was told for thinking men. 
After Mass it was my privilege to meet him. When I return to 
Omaha I trust we may get up an organization on the plan of this 
Sodality. 

The more I see of the world, the more I appreciate my Jes- 
uit training. Of course, in the Law School, since we have no 
competitions, there is little chance for comparison ; but I may say, 
judging from the answers given in class, that a Jesuit-trained 
man need have no fear of the graduates of any other college. I 
am daily associating with men from every state of the Union, and 
I am not at all alarmed at the superiority of their training. I have 
had but one chance to compete thus far. One of the English pro- 
fessors has organized a debating club to which belong some thirty 



GRADUATES ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. 26 1 

men of the various Law School classes. Two weeks ago I de- 
bated, having been chosen after a brief extempore speech I made 
at a previous meeting. Our debate was entirely extempore, and 
though my fellow debaters were, I think, my seniors, I received 
by all odds the most favorable criticism. Under the system in 
vogue here we are continually trying to master details, to sift rea- 
sonings, and gather from adjudicated cases the principles of law 
which are to guide us in our practice. You can readily see the 
value of Creighton's course as a preparation for such work. Of 
course I have to work very hard, and as I am earning my way 
through school I have very little time to myself. 

7. For me the course pursued in Creighton was the best 
possible; without knowing it, I was being taught the very things 
I was most to use in after life. Without a doubt I am satisfied. 
Were I not I would be most ungrateful. I was taught in Creigh- 
ton by the best instructors ; I was educated free of charge ; I felt 
myself, while there, rather in a home where all was love and kind- 
ness, than in a school ; I was instructed daily in examples of hon- 
esty and truth ; what more could I ask ? I am satisfied, and more 
than satisfied, I am grateful. 

Because of the situation I occupy in life I have found my 
studies in Latin and Greek most useful. Were it not for this I 
think my course of philosophy the one most full of practical use. 
If the University gave a little more time to English composition 
it would be an improvement. I am of the opinion that more of 
the Latin and Greek authors should be read, not only in order to 
acquaint the pupil with these masters, but also to satisfy the re- 
quirements of eastern colleges. In Creighton the course of studies 
is obligatory, elsewhere it is largely optional. The former sys- 
tem is, in my estimation, most satisfactory for boys. The latter 
is best for men. If either is to be followed exclusively, I would 
say that the obligatory course is far superior to the optional. If 
the students of our Catholic colleges are inferior to those of non- 
Catholic colleges, I have seen no indication of it. My opinion is 
that they are superior in at least four points, knowledge of Re- 
ligion, Philosophy, Greek and Latin ; as for the other studies, they 
are probably on a par. 



Year of Jubilee. 




Jubilemus Deo 




VICE-PRESIDENTS OF CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY. 



I 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



THE TEACHING STAFF AT CREIGHTON. 

IT is impossible to give even bare mention to all those who have 
been connected with the college as teachers. The work of 
many of them though most thorough and conscientious was not 
such as to attract attention. It was hidden, like the foundations 
of the building. This is particularly true of the Jesuit Scholas- 
tics. Nevertheless it would be manifestly unjust to omit some 
characterization of their lives and labors; and therefore we shall 
tell what the scholastic teachers at Creighton were by quoting 
from ''The Spiritual Exercises and the Christian Education of 
Youth," by Rev. Herbert Lucas. 

"Of what sort is this comparatively youthful educator of 
youth — the Jesuit scholastic in the best and freshest years of his 
early manhood — to whom Catholic parents are invited to confide 
in great measure the training of their boys? Let me sketch him 
as I think he would be according to the mind of St. Ignatius, and 
as I believe him to be in actual fact. It would be absurd to pre- 
tend that he is, on the average, a man of exceptionally brilliant 
talents, a hero or a saint. But he is a man, who, having a very 
modest estimate of his own powers, is quietly and resolutely de- 
termined that they shall be devoted entirely and without stint to 
the service of his Divine Master, and to the service of his boys 
for the sake of their Lord and his. He is a man who lives hab- 
itually in the presence of God ; a man who makes the law of gen- 
erosity, not the law of parsimony towards God, the rule of his 
life; a man whose habitual question is not: How little am I 
bound to do ? but : Is there any more that I can do for God and 
my boys? Comfort, amusement, self-indulgence of all kinds he 
has learned to despise; or, rather, he hardly thinks of them, ex- 
cept in so far as some measure of relaxation is needful to keep 
him in condition for the efficient discharge of his duties. And 

{263) 



264 THE TEACHING STAFF. 

here again his question is not : How much of these can I manage 
to secure from the indulgence of my superiors ? but rather : How 
far can I contrive to do without them? Externally calm and 
quiet, it is possible that, at first sight, you might think him a little 
lacking in enthusiasm, but, in truth, he has so trained himself to 
work up to the very limit of his power, that he wastes no energy 
in useless excitement. And, if you could penetrate the secrets of 
his morning prayer, and of his habitual recollection, you would 
find that there is, indeed, a hidden fire of enthusiasm under that 
calm and modest exterior. For, in his novitiate and in his yearly 
retreats and his daily meditations, he has kindled and kept alive, 
deep down in his heart this threefold conviction : ( i ) That there 
is one Man and only One, Who is worthy of all our heart's loyalty, 
and that Man is Christ Jesus our Lord ; (2) that there is one work, 
and only one, that is worthy of a man's entire self-devotion, and 
that is the work which He came on earth to do, the great work of 
the salvation of souls and (3) that there is one way and only one, 
in which that work can be carried out in its highest perfection, and 
that is the way w,hich He chose, the way of self-denial, sufifering, 
humiliation — the Way of the Cross. Now, our young Jesuit 
scholastic knows very well that the heavier crosses, great suffer- 
ings, grievous humiliations, severe mortifications are the choice 
prizes of life, such as fall only to a few. He hardly expects them 
for himself, at least in the present stage of his life. But if he 
can not have humiiliations, he can rejoice in obscurity, and in the 
sweet peace of the hidden life ; and you could not do him a greater 
disservice than to make a fuss about him, or pa}^ him empty com- 
pliments. If it is not given to him to endure severe sufferings, at 
least he will thankfully bear the cross of daily drudgery, of a 
somewhat monotonous and very wearing existence, in which to 
something more than the toils of the paid school-master are added 
the exercises of the religious life; and he wishes for nothing bet- 
ter than to go on working for God in some equally obscure em- 
ployment, unknown to the world at large, and unnoticed by his 
neighbors, until the night comes when a man can work no more. 
He knows that 'it is good to wait with silence for the salvation 
of God.' He knows 'it is good for a man when he has borne the 
yoke from his youth.' 

"I would say that this is the standard of life which has been 



THE TEACHING STAFF. 265 

"kept continually before my eyes by those younger members of the 
Society of Jesus with whom it has been my privilege to live for 
much more than half my life. Now, St. Ignatius seems to have 
thought that daily and hourly contact with men of this stamp 
would be good for boys. He seems to have thought that in course 
of time they would assimilate some of that spirit of deep piety, of 
conscientious devotion to duty, of generous readiness to go far be- 
yond the limits of mere duty, of that practice of self-denial and 
self-control which they could not help seeing exemplified in their 
masters, if those masters were such men as he intended them to 
be. And as regards qualifications for teaching in the various sec- 
ular branches of learning, he thought he might safely leave to the 
discretion and responsibility of superiors to see that their men 
were competent in the matters which they were appointed to im- 
part to others." 

Among those who have been a long time in the faculty stands 
prominently Father William F. Rigge. The following appreci- 
ation of him is culled from the World Herald, Feb. 3, 1901. 

Father William Rigge, who has charge of the scientific de- 
partment of Creighton University, is as well known in Omaha as is 
his brother, Father Joseph Rigge, who built the observatory and 
greatly enlarged the physical and chemical outfit. Either the one 
or the other has been stationed at Creighton University for seven- 
teen out of the twenty-three years of its existence. Father Wil- 
liam Rigge is the younger of the two by fifteen years. He was 
born in Cincinnati, O., in 1857, and after five years of study at 
St. Francis Xavier College at the same place, became a Jesuit in 
1885. 

Father William Rigge is one of the old foundation stones 
■of the College, and his memory is stored with many incidents of 
the early days. After his eight years' course of higher studies at 
St. Louis, continued at Woodstock, near Baltimore, where he was 
ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Gibbons on August 24, 
1890, he taught the natural sciences for three years at St. Ignatius 
College, Chicago, and another three years at St. Louis University, 
St. Louis. August 20, 1895, he became a professional astronomer 
at the observatory of Georgetown College, Washington, D. C, 
under the direction of Father Hagen and in company 



266 THE TEACHING STAFF. 

with Father Hedrick. The career opening up before him 
had always been the ideal of his life, but Providence had 
decreed otherwise. One year of work with the photographic tele- 
scope and microscope so injured his eyesight that he was forced 
to give up technical work and confine himself to the class-room. 
He then came to Omaha, and has been here ever since. 

Father Rigge is eminently qualified for his position. Astron- 
omy is his specialty, and besides an unlimited store of information 
and the practical use of almost every astronomical instrument, 
he is personally acquainted with the most prominent astronomers 
of the country, and thoroughly familiar with their work. Tech- 
nical articles of his have appeared in the Astronomische Nachrich- 
ten, the Astronomical Journal, Popular Astronomy and other peri- 
odicals. Pure mathematics is his next choice, and this trait shows 
itself in all his work ; for astronomical observation is but a means 
to obtain data for computation. He loves to sit at his desk sur- 
rounded by mathematical works, drawing mathematical curves, 
computing eclipses, and giving the professional as well as the un- 
professional world the thoughts that flow from his facile pen. In 
physics, his grasp of his subject, his apt illustrations and his re- 
sourcefulness as an experimenter, make his lectures most interest- 
ing. In the making and repairing of instruments he possesses con- 
summate skill. From fitting up his own common alarm-clock with 
an automatic arrangement for indicating the day of the month 
and the day of the week, and the age of the moon, to making a 
telephone, an arc-light regulator and a steam engine, there is 
scarcely a physical instrument that he has not made, and the cabi- 
net of Creighton University already shows much of his handi- 
work. In electrical wiring, carpentry, plumbing, sewing, bench 
and lathe work in metal, wood and glass, he is an expert. But this 
kind of work is to him only a means, not an end, and he indulges 
in it only as a recreation or as a relief when fatigued from more 
intellectual pursuits. 

Father Rigge is a born teacher. Even as an undergraduate 
student at college the lower classes were at times, during the sick- 
ness of a professor intrusted to his care. He has a peculiar way 
of making even abstract mathematics interesting, and his apt il- 
lustrations and incidental jokes and stories compel the attention 
of all. Fired with enthusiasm for his studies he inspires his pu- 



THE TEACHING STAFF. 267 

pils with that devotion to principle and duty, that untiring energy 
for work which characterizes himself. A lazy student, especially 
when talented, is a thorn in his side, and when there are several 
in the class, life is void of its attractions, until by gentle or severe 
inducements he has brought the offender back to the path of duty. 
With his lifelong experience in the class-room, his knowledge of 
other colleges and the later career of his scholars, he can not un- 
derstand how a student with all the facilities and inducements to 
study offered him at Creighton University, can even for an hour 
neglect to throw his whole soul into his studies, or fail to follow 
carefully the direction of able professors. Whilst there are and 
always will be everywhere some black sheep, he is much pleased 
with the earnestness and application of Omaha students, and re- 
gards the years he has spent at Creighton University almost the 
best of his life. Whilst his ambition is to return to the observa- 
tory of Georgetown College, his many friends would nevertheless 
like to keep him here. 



In length of service at Creighton, Father Charles Coppens 
holds the next place. He is widely known as an author and edu- 
cator. His various works on rhetoric and philosophy are exten- 
sively used in colleges and academies ; his medical lectures are 
seen on the bookshelves of physicians and clergymen, while his 
booklets and magazine articles are scattered broadcast. 

Born in the little kingdom of Belgium, May 24, 1835, he re- 
ceived his elementary training in one of those secular schools 
which an irreligious government had then inflicted on a truly 
Catholic people ; and he pursued his classical studies in the college 
of Turnhout, his native town, under the tuition of Jesuit masters. 
The contrast between these two systems of education impressed 
him so forcibly that, while he cast in his lot for life with his 
Jesuit professors, he has ever been pronounced in his condemna- 
tion of those whose baneful influence on education came near 
wrecking the faith of his boyhood. Just when he was concluding 
his classical course it happened that the renowned missionary, 
Rev. P. J. De Smet, visited the college to enlist recruits for apos- 
toHc labors in America. Young Charles at once offered himself 
for the task, pleading that, though his health was frail, and hem- 
orrhages had more than once threatened his life, he might yet 



"268 THE TEACHING STAFF. 

render some service in college life, and thus replace stronger men 
desirous of a missionary career. The band of youthful recruits, 
fourteen in number, arrived in St. Louis, Mo., on the day after 
Christmas, 1853, and betook themselves for religious training to 
the N'ovitiate of St. Stanislaus, Florissant, Mo. 

The life of a young Jesuit is one of assiduous labor, and total 
retirement from the world. Father Coppens discovered that this 
■career was much to his taste, and found his happiness in the grace 
of his vocation. He studied philosophy, and taught academic 
branches in St. Louis University ; next he filled, for four years, the 
chair of Latin and Greek at St. Xavier College, Cincinnati, O., 
and, after lecturing on rhetoric for another session at St. Louis, he 
was sent for his theological course to Fordham' College, New 
York. Raised in 1865 to the dignity of the priesthood, he was ap- 
plied for ten successive years to the rhetorical training of the 
young Jesuits in his former novice home at Florissant, and for five 
more years to the teaching of rhetoric to the students of St. Louis 
University, His field of usefulness had meanwhile been gradually 
extended. Besides the ordinary labors of the sacred ministry, he 
was frequently employed in giving retreats to college students, and 
girls in academies, and especially to religious persons in convents 
scattered over the Middle and Western States of the Union. In 
1880 he was sent to St. Mary's College, Kansas, to direct the 
studies there ; and he governed that institution as its president 
from 1 88 1 to 1884, and at a time when various circumstances comr 
bined to give it a very rapid expansion. Four large stone edifices, 
more solid than elegant, remain on the ground to proclaim, if not 
his architectural taste, at least his tireless energy. 

Recalled to Florissant he profited by his life of retirement 
to put in order the notes he had gradually collected on the study 
of rhetoric, and prepare them for publication. He had long re- 
gretted the want of a text-book on this subject, written from a 
Catholic point of view and doing justice to the literary compo- 
sitions of Catholic authors. His first work, "The Art of Oratori- 
cal Composition," aimed besides at much greater thoroughness in 
the study of oratory than was commonly found in the class books 
of the day. The book was most favorably received, and at once 
adopted for general use in Catholic colleges, where it holds pre- 
eminence even to the present day. The Catholic World said of it 



THE TEACHING STAFF. 269 

at the time : "Father Coppens brings to this book not only the full 
equipment of a master of the art, but all the invaluable skill in im- 
parting his knowledge to be acquired only after long trial, in the 
rostrum of the teacher." 

This success encouraged the author to publish, the following 
year, his "Practical Introduction to English Rhetoric," embracing 
all that regards literary composition, but not oratory. It reached 
a vastly wider sphere of pupils than the other text book, and is 
to-day more commonly used than any other work of the kind in 
Catholic schools of higher education. Speaking of this useful 
book, the V. Rev. Rudolph Meyer, S. J., himself a great educator, 
wrote : "The best thing I have ever done for education was to 
urge its author to publish that book." 

Providence seemed to dispose the Father's occupations so. 
that he was successively appointed to a great variety of profess- 
orial chairs. For each of these he provided a new text book. In 
1882, while lecturing on philosophy in Detroit College, Detroit, 
Mich., he published a handy volume on "Logic and Metaphysics ;" 
and in 1895, while teaching in Creighton College, Omaha, he is- 
sued a companion volume to the preceding on "Moral Philoso- 
phy." 

Meanwhile he had begun a course of lectures to the medical 
students of this University, and in 1897, appeared his "Moral 
Principles and Medical Practice." It covered a new field of 
knowledge for English readers, and it was so well received that 
three editions were printed in three years. It was enthusiastically 
welcomed even in distant lands. Thus, a Catholic physician 
wrote from Ballerat, in Australia; "There are twenty-seven phy- 
sicians here, all but two are Protestants. To each of them I sent 
your book on Moral Principles ; it was read, I assure you, with the 
deepest interest." This work has since been translated into 
French, by Rev. Father Forbes, and printed with annotations by 
the learned Parisian, Dr. Surbled. A German version has been 
prepared by a professor of Moral theology, Rev. B. Niederberger ; 
it is annotated by Dr. Kannamuller, of Passau. The same lectures 
have been printed as a serial in Spanish in the "Criterio Catholico" 
of Barcelona, Spain. 

Father Coppens has been working to the present day with un- 
diminished energy, lecturing on philosophy and religion in 



2/0 THE TEACHING STAFF. 

Creighton College, on medical jurisprudence in the John A. 
Creighton Mediaal College, and engaged in the ordinary duties of 
the ministry in St. John's and other churches of this city. He has 
meanwhile published in various magazines many articles of sci- 
entific and general interest. 

A man of deep piety he found spiritual work most congenial. 
Life always had a serious meaning and labor was a second nature 
to him. Avaricious of time and of opportunities to help his fel- 
lowman. Father Coppens never knew what it was to rest. He was 
indefatigable in preaching, painstaking in teaching, tireless in 
writing, diligent in study, even to his latest years. He was an 
earnest reader and his active, analytic mind was ever at work. 
From no call of duty or charity did he ever claim exemption. 



Among the welcome additions to the faculty in 1900 was the 
Rev. James J. Conway, who had taught Mental and Moral Phil- 
osophy for about ten years in St. Louis University, before lend- 
ing the fruits of his experience and erudition to this College on the 
banks of the Missouri. Of him it may be said "nihil tetigit quod 
'non ornaznt." As a profound thinker, an able speaker, a finished 
classical scholar, a theologian of approved character, a writer 
whose historical monographs attracted widespread interest he ex- 
celled in many fields. He wrote, translated, and edited a number 
of publications and his dates for lecturing and preaching were 
looked forward to by those who knew his ability and learning. 
His class was so much taken up with him that when there was a 
question of his discontinuing teaching, all the members signed a 
petition to the President that Father Conway should be retained, 
at least till their year was finished. He liked the Western boy and 
sincerely regretted the circumstances requiring him to abandon 
the work of teaching at Creighton. 



Besides those mentioned here and in the preceding chapters, 
other professors as gifted and devoted as any who have been 
named, should find a place in this commemoration of the teaching 
staff. But the limits set for this sketch have already been exceeded 
and this last page must be given to an apology for our apparent 
forgetfulness of many an earnest teacher. It happens, however, 



THR TEACHING STRFF. 2/1 

that the work of our most devoted members so seldom meets re- 
cognition that they are accustomed to merit, without receiving in 
this Hfe, the reward of the thankless toil, which the Good Master 
Whom they serve will bestow upon them hereafter. Better than 
the most complete record in an earthly volume is the assured hope 
that their names are written indelibly in the Book of Life. 



EPILOGUE. 

The people of Nebraska prize Knowledge and have secured 
educational advantages under the most trying and difficult cir- 
cumstances. During the last few years this State has devoted 
large sums of money to the building and equipment of primary 
schools and has made rapid progress in every kind of culture. 

What may not be expected in the way of higher education 
in a State in which even elementary instruction has such earnest 
and determined votaries? May Religion and Truth be as dear 
to our people as Knowledge ; and may Creighton University, in 
the Providence of God, play a noble part in enlightening the minds 
and moulding the hearts of the future citizens of Nebraska and 
the West — All to the Greater Glory of God. 



IN the diagram entitled "Numerical Life of the Classes," the 
number of students in any class and for any year, since 
the opening of the College, can be seen at a glance. The varia- 
tions in attendance of any class, from the Third Academic up to 
Philosophy, can also be followed from year to year. In other 
words, this diagram enables us to follow the fortunes of any class, 
from its entrance into College till graduation. The classes are 
all represented by small circles, the interior of the circle being 
marked differently for each class. To illustrate : the class of '03 
entered College in 1896, the 19th year of the institution, and is 
represented during its first year at College by the symbol proper 
to Third Academic, 71 then being on the roll. The next year, 
1897, only 40 of the 71 returned to form Second Academic Class, 
and they are represented by the appropriate symbol of the Second 
Academic. The year following, 1898, 30 were mustered for First 
Academic Class. The years following there were 25 in Humani- 
ties, 19 in Poetry, 17 in Rhetoric, and 15 in Philosophy, each num- 
ber being represented by the appropriate symbol of the class and 
under the proper year. In order to facilitate this investigation, 
full or dotted lines connect the series of classes. This diagram 
gives in one page an epitome of the numbers in attendance in each 
class as found in all the Creighton College catalogues for the first 
twenty-five years. 

( 272 ) 




The fluctuation in attendance as shown in this diagram are explained in 
Chapter XVII, pages 124 and 126. 

















-IO-3 Cl\»l 

• oiMi.iii >tr 

< , - . 

dJ • • • 

a z 
^■ I e <- 

WW 






/3 

111 


J 
o 

o 

< 
J 

iiS - 
^^ 






-lv> 




1V3KSVT0 


s. 


J 

o 

ii'i 

•^ X J ^ , ^ s 

f 5- ; ' 2 i) 5 

< -J 2 • S >" CO 




■I'X 

\ 5 - 

^ i d 


o o ^ S 

1 * - * » ^^ , ; 

-^ - 5 u 

^ g S ^ H 2 1 
a i 2 ei ^ I I 
&^ I-^ o<^ Ul X. D- d Q. 




10 

^~ 

§ 

to 

o 

CD 
IS 


O 


» 






^ lf> 0/ _ _ 
- oo rf3 ^ t^ <>i 


c7 - 


lO cV \fl O 
Tf ^ O rf5 


- o" cJ c^( - wtl 




- ^ 




o 








«, J^ CO O ^J- lO 
f< ^ ya <0 tsL csi 


t\ o 


cr — ^ oo 
,o ^o *o *r:> 


-or- t-;- t>! ly- 


o 


•~ ^ 


_ o 









»< 






J5 oo lO (^ - o- 

t^ ^ ..^ _ CVf -- 


Z- '^ 


(Ni -"i- ^ c^ 


1 iD & cv^ 1 ,/3 


If) 


-^^ 


tl 












^ fO ^ c>< — 


00 oo 


o- -a — 

•q- «t 0^ C< 


?^? ffs 


CO 


o 


1? 






N 






■^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 


1 ^ 


o* -i o- ^ 

cJ C>/ — _ 


:i in r !r » '5 


oo 


. sO _ 


_ o 

- 4 




o- 


o 






- 4- O ./3 

Ti- ^ A ^4; „ 


Z s> 


C^ t^ CO ^ 
<^ o^ 


_ >^ - _ <» <S( 


■s> 


cJ 


-:;5 






0- 






— C^ tf^ (^ 00 

r^ .^ c^ cs^ — 


a- ~ 


<sf — — 


"? O oo oo (V O 

f -£> r 2: j^ S 


- 


r^ - 


o t^ 






«5 






4) O t.^ oi - 


- -e 




cr ^ If) iT) >0 <» 


-S 


•^ ^ 


- rO 




+ 


ts. 






r- o a- oo ,o 
J) ^ c^ „ _ 


o- r^ 


C— or -i- 




s 


cs/ f> - 


-s 




o- 


-a 






rf3 iD « 

O -t- N - "^ 


oo ^ 


Zt^ 


^ O oO oO .O - 

" ^ ^ -2 -J- - 


12 "" 


+ t^ 


|:S 




o- 


n 








° ^■' 




■^,.0 o O "? 


^^ 


O - 


?.. 




tr 


J 






cr o< ^ in 

oo ^ »< - - 


t^ 


^ c^ - ^ > ^ 


C5 






lO 






«, -0 ^ ^ 

oo ^ — — 


lO 


^- oo c7 O S S 


k-" 


1. *" 




<r 


N 


N. 




ID -o .^ - 


r^ 


_ - Z t- tv( tvi 


o; 


(O 






~ 






•« <>< wa X. o 
lO il- - ^ - 




O J. t^lD "^ t^ 

- _ ^ ,r> * « 




5^ 











^::^--^ 




_ J. m oo -o ./o 

V- Z oo 13- ^ » 


^ 


.§' 






0- 


>*• 




:J:;e -^ 




-f?^^ r 




<o 






00 






^ :^ i: ^ -^ 




-^|?i^ ^ 




o- 






K 






o •« « 




■"- ^ -^ -^ s °" 

o c- — oo 2^ ^ 




r«- 




CO 
CO 


-£ 




;^ S - - 


J^f ^ 




- T «-" -3 -^ 




r» 






■D 




;:l$- 


%^^ 








r» 




00 


+ 




OS in 


i? •* 




— — tV csi o/ 




r>- 




o 


"1 


-£> 








O 




o 






ty 










V> oO 

5 S 




o 






- 






^. 



S Z 6 



Z<iiK St 






'[&[-•-" 



ATrtLETIC riELO 



Ma i>r. 

Bu'dd'tnj 

/ 8 7 8 






nWell 






6 a u. « K k i 



2 O • 



JU. 



I ^' 



'I I 



ft 


use 


Or. 


^p„Jiiii 


«■„ 


..jitns 



Cs£i<;«roN/ Coll£C£ C'^oi-^Ds i«r«-i8t(. 




UNlVEBtJTY QbOONDS I8«<«-110 




CreiShton l^NIVERSITY Grounds >n moi 



